Saiunkoku Monogatari Mini Story
Having Come Together With The Crimson Breeze
Edited by: Ysabet

"--Is anyone there?" Up until that moment, regardless of how loudly I cried, no one had ever come.

" . . . You don't have to cry here all alone anymore." Extending his hand, he wiped away my tears, wiped my nose and cleaned the dirt from my filthy face. He patted my head. Having cried myself to exhaustion, I lay there unable to get to my feet, and he easily picked me up, patting me gently on the back. "--From now on, you should come to my palace."

I clung tightly to that neck. I thought that maybe it was all a dream and that if I let go, this kind person would vanish like smoke.

"--I'm your second eldest brother . . . Ryuuki, my youngest brother. Don't worry. I won't go anywhere . . . " he whispered in my ear as though to calm me.

And with that, Ryuuki's nightmare finally ended.

"There's a garden east of the Shouenkyuu, right? Let's have tea there today. I'll make some sweet bean buns and bring them. Come around when the afternoon bell rings three times. Don't complain if you come after they've all been eaten."

Ryuuki was in a panic. The afternoon bell would soon strike three. The answers he'd gotten when asking questions during Sa Taiho's lecture were very interesting and he'd ended up staying longer than anticipated. Shuurei usually attended lectures with him, but she'd been absent, as Shouka had asked her to help take care of things in the archives. Without her there, he'd gotten overconfident and ended up slipping up a bit . . . Did Sa Taiho realise that he was only acting like a foolish lord? Ryuuki couldn't read that good-natured man anymore than he could Shou Taishi.

. . . Not to mention it's too late now . . .

Right now, going after Shuurei's sweet bean buns as quickly as possible was first and foremost. If not, those special sweet bean buns would end up disappearing in short order.

Ryuuki remembered something that had happened only recently: When he'd mentioned that he really liked peach sweet buns, Shuurei told him that if he studied hard, she'd make some for him as a reward. And so, while Shuurei made them for him (<- extremely important point), Ryuuki was busy finishing off the massive quantities of homework that Kouyuu had spitefully given him.

And then, as he was going out happily, regardless of the shadows under his eyes . . .

"Your skill is exceptional. These peach sweet buns are exactly as I like them, Shuurei-dono. Truly, I should've taken you as my wife."

" . . . why don't they end up like rice crackers? The ingredients are the same, so what's different? But they are delicious. They're certainly delicious. . . . heh, I think I'll brag about it later to that person (my boss) later."

On one side Shuuei and Kouyuu were devouring the sweet buns.

"They are truly delicious. You're so good at everything, Kou-kihi-sama. It's wonderful. . . . could you teach me how to make them later?"

"*fufu* You want to give them to the one who sends you letters, don't you, Kourin? Ah, but me too . . . Um, could you teach me how to make them too? There's someone . . . I'd like to give some to as well."

On the other side, Kourin and Shusui blushed, trying to hide their embarrassment by continuing to eat the peach sweet buns. Ryuuki could only stare in shock as the buns disappeared at an unimaginable pace, contrary to what one would expect from their refined manners.

Before Ryuuki realised it, there was only one sweet bun left on the plate. Despite his standing right in the doorway, no one noticed him. And, without any hesitation, the hand that reached out for that last one was . . .

"Hmmm, such a delicious looking peach sweet bun~."

That instant, Ryuuki voiced his shock, still staring. "Wait, you rotten bas- . . . Shou Taishi! That's my peach sweet bun!!"

Shou Taishi looked at Ryuuki with a look of mild surprise, and unhesitatingly took a bite from the sweet bun. After chewing happily, he let out a sad sigh.

"You have to be kind to the elderly. It could be that this will be the last peach sweet bun I ever get to eat."

'--This rotten bastard.' Ryuuki felt like killing Shou Taishi.

However, Ryuuki still had one hope left. Since she made them for him, no doubt Shuurei had put some aside for him.

That had to be the case. That it seemed like Shuuei and Kouyuu were avoiding looking at him was his eyes playing tricks on him. Likewise, Kourin hurrying out of the room, and Shusui suddenly starting to clean the table, was just him being paranoid.

At that moment, a pale-looking Shuurei and Seiran entered the room carrying a tray with tea for everyone.

" . . . I'm sorry everyone . . . Father insisted on making tea for everyone . . . "

At that moment, Shou Taishi left the room like the wind, humming under his breath, and everyone left behind felt like killing him.

"My . . . Shouka-sama's tea? How very thoughtful of him."

For some reason, only Shusui happily accepted tea from the tray. Shuurei couldn't help being shocked at her response.

"Um . . . Shusui, you don't have to force yourself. My, the plate's completely empty--I'm so happy! How was it, Ryuuki? I'm pretty confident at how they turned out. Seiran and father both said that they were delicious, and had three each."

" . . . three . . . "

Seiran carefully looked away as Ryuuki repeated what Shuurei had said.

In other words, the only thing remaining was the hellish drink: Shouka's "papa's tea". And Ryuuki himself was the only one who didn't get to eat any buns. He really liked Shouka, but . . .

This is too cruel. Ryuuki stood there shaking before running out of there crying.

'---That nightmare! I'll never repeat that again.'

Without fail, he would reach the east garden of Shouenkyuu.

Ryuuki's eyes glinted, and he took off on the shortest route from his current whereabouts to the garden.

'All right, I'll make it!'

And just as he was about to make a dash for it, his feet suddenly stopped for some reason.

" . . ?"

Cocking his head slightly, Ryuuki didn't think about anything as he ran off.

As he crashed through the undergrowth, he felt like everything around him suddenly went dark.

"It's because I gave birth to the likes of you that I became so unsightly. That person doesn't even need another child -- how foolish I was!"

He felt like he'd had his ears boxed.

He heard a voice that was supposed to exist only in the depths of darkness, in his nightmares. "Go away! Get yourself out of my sight!"

Ryuuki felt himself break into a cold sweat. He staggered from nausea and dizziness, feeling as though someone was literally churning his innards. The world around him flashed, becoming darker and darker.

'Th-this place . . . '

Struggling to look around, he noticed that small open space.

. . . I remember.

His mind was quickly dragged back into the past, to a distant memory that he had forgotten. The past he'd locked away.

'I'd always . . . cried here on my own . . . '

. . . Waaaahh . . . Waaaahhh . . . He heard the voice of a child crying.

That's... my own voice. Yes, that was right. He'd always fall beside the tree and cry. Even though there was no way for him not to be heard, no one ever came. All alone, he'd cry until night came and, becoming afraid with the pressing darkness, he'd crawl back to his room.

--Those days, praying that someone would come, waiting . . . and yet, still being all alone.

"It would've been better not to give birth to you. At least if you were the crown prince or second prince it would've been all right!"

He couldn't even avoid the box of combs that was thrown at him. If he did, his mother would get more upset and at times would wail.

"Don't hang around where I might see you!" His imaginary mother's scream pierced his ears.

Ryuuki slowly fell to his knees. He could feel his heart pounding and sweat dripped from his face. Breathing was . . . difficult, and his heart ached, but no one was there, and he wandered alone . . . then.

' . . . no, things are different, now. Now.'

When . . . is now . . ?

His vision wavered, and just as it was about to be crushed by darkness . . .

Someone grabbed his arm.

"You're . . . Seiran . . . "

"So this is where you were. You're very pale--what happened?"

Even as he asked the question, Seiran took his hand, almost as though he knew everything, and sat him down at the base of the tree. Ryuuki slumped against it as Seiran studied his face.

Ryuuki's field of vision rapidly expanded, his heart noticeably calmed, and his five senses cleared. He could breathe.

As the sweat was gently wiped from his brow, he automatically closed his eyes.

"I was on my way to the gazebo with the tea. If you're not feeling well, did you want to rest here and have some tea instead?

It was a kind voice. Ryuuki nodded and he watched as Seiran quickly prepared tea.

. . . Just recently, Ryuuki had managed to escape from a nightmare when Seiran held his hand. At that time, too, he'd felt that the young officer - Shi Seiran - had a mysterious aura to him. Seiran hadn't been particularly thrown by his sudden promotion, and from the day he'd been assigned to Ryuuki's side, he'd naturally fit in with the high ranked officials. And almost as though it were only natural, he was by Ryuuki's side. While he worked with a gentle smile, staying back a step, behind that, there was a definite sense of sympathy. Since Seiran was Shouka-dono's retainer, Ryuuki hadn't really questioned it but . . . he felt that, if his brother were alive, he might be like this.

All the more, since he only had such fragmentary memories of his half brother - Seien's aura, words, manner, and momentary expressions.

"Here you go."

While quietly accepting the tea cup, Ryuuki suddenly patted the ground by his side.

" . . . Y- you too. Drink here with me."

"If I have your permission, then I'd be happy to."

Seiran smiled gently, neither shrinking back nor refusing. Ryuuki was relieved--greatly relieved, for some reason, when Seiran gracefully sat down next to him.

Sitting there drinking tea together, Ryuuki remembered a voice that had called out long ago. Is . . . someone there?

With those words, pushing through the underbrush, for the first time, someone held out their hand to Ryuuki.

And from that day, everything about Ryuuki's world changed.

" . . . this is a special place," Ryuuki said without thinking. " . . . if I counted them, there are more things I don't want to remember about this place, but if you go by comparison, what happened here is more than enough to wipe out all of that."

He could remember.

He'd thought that today, tomorrow and the next day, no one would ever come.

Gentle arms that lifted him. Gentle hands that soothed him. A voice that whispered gently.

" . . . this place is the most important place for me. It's where I met a very, very important person."

He sensed Seiran smiling beside him.

"I see . . . No doubt, it's always been a special place for that person as well."

For some reason, Ryuuki felt very happy. However, he suddenly remembered something. " . . . actually, I'd sort of prefer it if that person didn't remember it too well."

"Hm? Why's that?"

"At that time, my face was really a mess. That's right. Even though he'd wiped my face clean, I kept crying a lot out of happiness while he carried me back. I ended up dirtying ani- aniue's robes with my tears, runny nose, and drool, and the maid-in-waiting assigned to caring for my brother got very angry."

Surprisingly, Seiran burst out laughing.

"And did you end up having to wash clothes with your brother?"

" . . . how well you figured it out. Th-that's right. Even though my elder brother was already a very accomplished Prince and an important part of the Imperial court, that maid-in-waiting was in an utter rage and we were thrown out under the cold sky. The two of us ended up going to the lake to do the laundry. I remember also helping to clean out the dirt, but . . . I didn't realise we had to be careful and ended up tearing the sash, and we ended up getting in trouble again."

Seiran was still laughing. ' . . . d-did I say something that funny?'

'Come to think of it,' Ryuuki remembered, 'I seem to remember big brother also laughing when we tore the sash. That's right, and as a result, I also ended up joining in the laughter, and we ended up getting into worse trouble yet from that lady-in-waiting.'

As far as he could remember, that was the first time he'd laughed from the heart.

After that, the time he'd spent with his brother went by like a dream.

In terms of time, it was only a short period, but those few years were undoubtedly what had made him who he was now.

"I* . . . really loved Seien, my big brother. In the past, now, and in the future, I'll always love him."

Just as Seiran opened his mouth to reply, there was rustling in the underbrush, and Shuurei poked her head out.

"There you are! What are the two of you doing? I've been looking for you."

Shuurei raised her eyes at the sight of them idly drinking tea. "That's not fair, starting in a place like this. I'd told you that we were to meet at the garden."

Ryuuki quickly apologised. "Ah, um, Shuurei, sorry. Um . . . "

"Well, given the beautiful view, I can understand."

"Eh. . ?"

For the first time, Ryuuki looked around and was at a loss for words. All around, before his very eyes, were the bright colours of flowers in full bloom. The sound of the wind rustling in the treetops disappeared into the sky, and in the distance the sounds of a brook and birds singing could be heard. It was a beautiful sight.

. . . I'd never even noticed this . . .

He'd always been able to think only of himself. When he'd been so young, crying all by himself while no one came for him, he never had the wherewithal to look around.

--- But things were different now.

"[I've been looking for you.]"

He felt his heart warm from those words that were spoken as though it were only natural.

"All right. I expect everyone else will come soon, so let's have tea here. Seiran, will you help me?"

Ryuuki realised he'd been unconsciously holding onto Seiran's sleeve, and quickly let go.

"Since you were so upset that you couldn't get to eat even one last time, this time I made a mountain of them. Everyone's been waiting for you to arrive, so no one's eaten any at all yet!" Shuurei said, sounding a little annoyed. All sorts of sweet buns could be seen in the package she placed in front of him.

Soon, people started coming through the underbrush.

" . . . are you a child?! Wasting time in a place like this--"

"That's right, Your Majesty. It's one thing if you're like Kouyuu and can't help but waste time wandering, but you'll make everyone worry if you don't arrive at the expected time."

"You talk too much, Shuuei!"

While Kouyuu was in a huff, Shuuei sat next to Ryuuki with an aristocratic air.

"Shuurei-sama, I'm going to take some of the sweet buns, okay? I'm going to take them to Shouka-sama."

"Ah, I too will take a share to Sa Tai . . . or rather, to all three advisors."

Shusui and Kourin bundled up a number of the buns and happily carried them back through the underbrush.

A lively -- it was truly a lively afternoon.

"Okay, the tea's ready."

Ryuuki felt a little lonely when Seiran settled down next to Shuurei, and quietly moved next to him. Shuurei noticed it, and looked at him a bit suspiciously.

" . . . hey, regardless of how good-looking Seiran is, I won't forgive you if you make a move on him."

"It'd be too much of a waste. I can't do that with Seiran or Shouka."

"What's that supposed to mean!? You mean even Father's within the limits of your range? Hang on, in that case, then definitely Shogun Ran . . . "

Kouyuu choked on his tea. Shuuei calmly deflected the surprising role that had been pushed upon him.

"Hmm . . . I'm afraid I specialise in women, Shuurei-dono."

"The same's true of Father and Seiran."

" . . . *fufufu* Shuurei"

"What!?"

"I like Shuurei and Seiran and Shouka very much. I'm extremely fortunate."

Not being alone. Having someone who would call him by name. -- That miraculous sense of fortune.

Ryuuki looked so happy as he ate some sweet buns.

"Don't finish things off with such an incomprehensible comment!!" Shuurei exclaimed.

Kouyuu, who'd been intently eating sweet buns while pretending he didn't hear what was going on, noticed Seiran's composed smile. " . . . he said he was twenty one, right?" he muttered to Shuuei, who was sitting beside him. "Then he's younger than us, but it doesn't seem like that at all. He's no ordinary person."

" . . . Well, true, he certainly isn't any ordinary person."

---You also don't know.

That my own happiness also began when I broke through that underbrush.

"A-ani...ue . . ?"

"That's right."

His frozen heart slowly melted from the small arms that clung to his neck, and the young voice that cried so much.

You don't know, that finally, for the first time, I'd laughed from my heart.

--That miraculous sense of fortune.