Saiunkoku Monogatari Vol 1 - Part 3
The Truth in the Darkness

In the midst of pitch darkness, cherry blossom petals continued to fall without end.
A figure approached. When he realised I was there, he smiled.
Like a small ripple, a warm feeling spread through my heart. So happy...
When I tried to approach, that person went back the way they came.
---......niue......?
Chasing after the figure that distances itself. But regardless of how much I run, the gap continues to widen.
The hand that reaches out so desperately is so small, like a maple leaf.
---Why......
I felt like crying. That was the only person there for me.
Don't go. Don't go.
Don't leave me alone.
The cherry blossoms, blew away. They became wisterias, they became sweet osmanthus...... they became snowflakes.
The figure blended in with the snow, and vanished.
I kept waiting. Through spring, through summer, through autumn, through winter. Always.
--Don't go.
I couldn't even say those words.
--Don't go.
Just as I felt I was about to fall to my knees in despair, someone grabbed my hand firmly from behind.
Surprised. ......I turned around slowly.

--Waking with a start, the familiar face of a guard was right beside him.

"......Se-- ran......?"

"Forgive me for presuming to enter without your permission. You were crying out in your sleep......"

The Emperor slowly sat up on his bed. After taking the evening meal together with Shuurei and returning to his chambers, he'd apparently fallen asleep.

He was covered in a cold sweat. When he thought to wipe the sweat from his brow, the Emperor finally realised that he was holding Seiran's hand.

Raising his arm while still holding that hand, Seiran hurriedly explained, "Ahhh...... umm, you reached out your hand and I unthinkingly...... I beg your pardon.

The Emperor still holding onto that hand, shook it up and down a couple of times.

"......Y-your majesty?"

Stopping his hands, the Emperor smiled.

"How about sleeping with me tonight, Seiran."

Seiran froze instantly. With an expression of having drunk pure vinegar on his face, it was obvious that he was trying, with all his might, to find some way out of his difficult situation. The Emperor cocked his head slightly.

"You don't want to."

"No...... Um, everyone has their own preferences. That is...

"I'm kidding," the Emperor said simply to a flustered Seiran, and smiled. "I just decided. I won't sleep with you."

"Whew......"

"It'd be too much of a waste."

"............"

Seiran wisely stayed silent.

The Emperor stared intently at Seiran.

"......as I thought. Seiran, aren't you a bit too masculine? Even though we're of a fairly similar age."

Having such a thing said so solemnly, Seiran was once again at a loss as to how to reply.

"I've been thinking recently, that it seems that Shuurei relies on you more than on me."

"............"

"You're a good man, so I can understand that. Also, you've been living together a long time. But, as Shuurei's husband, there are times when it annoys me."

"............"

"So, I think I'll go and bridge the gap with my wife."

The Emperor was very serious. Seiran trying to discern his intentions hesitantly asked, "And, i-in what way......?"

The Emperor tilted his head and thought silently for a moment when he suddenly came up with a plan, "I know, I'll have her call me by name as well."

And reluctantly letting go of Seiran's hand, he quickly jumped out of bed.

"There's no need to guard my chambers tonight."

The Emperor started walking away wearing only his nightwear, astonishing Seiran.

"W-wait a moment!"

"Hm?"

"You'll catch a cold! For all that it's spring, it still gets cold at night, so you should wear something on top."

The Emperor laughed, "While I like Shuurei, I also like you, Seiran."

Leaving a beautifully shocked frozen Seiran behind, the Emperor ended up leaving his chambers wearing only his nightwear afterall.

The moon shone brightly that night.

The Emperor thought back over the past month as the cool breeze brushed his cheek.

His heart was surprisingly calm. He thought that this was what it meant to be at peace. Even when being scolded by Shuurei too for some reason would make him very happy, his face would relax resulting in Shuurei getting even angrier with him. Wanting to experience that more, he'd lied about a number of things but, he figured it was fine. --because Shuurei's face when angry was very cute.

Having someone be concerned about oneself.

That it would bring such happiness.

The Emperor dropped his gaze to both his palms --The many things he should be able to grasp in his hands. Was Shuurei's smile one of those things. He then realised that if he closed his hand, he could grasp it. But if he continued, as he had up until then, and left his hands open, it would fall through his fingers---.

Up until then, he'd only had the barest of things in his hands.

Shouka, his place in the archives, the time he spent there-- those sorts of things which *to him* were very important, but small things. But he'd thought that it was fine that way. He long since given up wanting very much. --Except for one thing.

For that, he'd taken the throne he hadn't wanted. To him, it was only a temporary position. He wasn't the one who should be there. To protect the empty throne, being an Emperor in name, for when *that person* eventually returned. That's why while having taken the throne, he refused to be Emperor.

But then he met Shuurei.

He thought about if he could have her who had such unusual warmth. However, that was the same as letting go of the wish he'd so fervently hoped for up until then. She was a consort. Unless he were "Emperor" she couldn't be his. A breeze blew past. He looked at his palm-- and after a long moment slowly closed his fist.

Shusui looked up at the moon from inside the room.

"It's gone by very quickly hasn't it. --It's been a month now."

Shuurei leaned back against the sofa and sighed.

How true. I wonder my coming here was worth it.

Of course.

p84*****

Late at night --- while reading a book in the archives, Shouka raised an eyebrow slightly when he realised he had a visitor.

"--Kouyuu-dono?"

"......I'm sorry to disturb you so late. Would it be all right for me to sleep in the archives tonight?" Seeing the heavy fatigue in his face, Shouka quickly realised the problem. However, the courteous Shouka didn't say anything like 'You got lost again, didn't you'.

"Of course, make yourself comfortable. Although it is small."

"As always, thank you very much."

Despite being silent a long time, Kouyuu was very depressed and rather upset that he'd ended up getting lost in the department of civil affairs where he worked. He didn't think that the cause was because he didn't simply follow along with someone else as he usually did. Perhaps it was possible that a certain ogre of a superior spread some medicine to throw off one's sense of direction. He felt like someone had moved the landmarks as well. Or maybe perhaps......

"......Kouyuu-dono"

At the sound of Shouka's voice, Kouyuu was brought out of his whirling imaginations of victimization.

"Ah, y-yes!?"

"I heard you were summoned by the Senior Secretary of the Department of Civil Affairs but, did something happen?"

Unsure if Shouka noticed his momentary tension, Kouyuu quickly smiled slightly.

"--Yes, about work, a little. ......Ah that's right, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"It's been about a month since I've been assigned as the Emperor's tutor. During that time, I've wondered about a number of things."

Shouka's expression changed slightly. Kouyuu continued, looking very serious.

"---I'll ask this bluntly. Could it be that the Emperor---"

The next morning, Shuurei woke very slowly.

......For some reason, it's unusually warm. That and something rather heavy is on top of me. It was a strangely comforting weight.

"Unnn......"

While still half in the world of dreams, the sound of the door opening could be heard.

"Kou-kihi-sama, it's morn......"

'It's not Shusui's voice......' as she idly thought that, with the words having been cut off suddenly, for some reason, the sounds of someone rushing out and closing the door could be heard.

"......?"

Shuurei tried to shift her body. But her body didn't budge.

What had been on top of her...... or rather, what had been hanging on to her, wouldn't let her get up. Still half in her dreams, Shuurei forced her eyes open. Looking up slightly, a face was right there. The lowered lashes were very long and together they rankled on Shuurei's nerves.

(......Aaahh-, come to think of it, only his looks are pretty good aren't they--......)

It's completely unlike the strangely childish impression one gets from his manner of speech but....... .......

Shuurei snapped awake at that moment.

(W-w-w-w-w-wait a minute----!!)

Shuurei had been sleeping with Ryuuki holding her. She tried to jump up but his arm was firmly wrapped around her and didn't budge a bit. Given the circumstance, Shuurei's face turned bright red.

"H...hey! Your Majesty! Wake up. Let go of me already. Emperor!!"

"Unnnn......"

Ryuuki sleepily opened his eyes. Finding Shuurei in his arms, he lovingly caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, smiling happily. Then with increasing strength, held her close.

"You said you'd call me by name......"

And he went back to sleep.

Shuurei shrieked.

"Don't sleep! Up! Wake up. Wake up already----"

The servant who had come to wake Shuurei up today hadn't been Shusui and was the end of her luck.

The rumours had spread in the short time it took for them to eat breakfast.

"The Emperor's has shared his bed with a woman!" that sort of mistaken rumour, however, Shuurei couldn't deny it since she supposedly was his wife.

While she didn't say anything when the servants mentioned it, she complained clearly with her "isn't that nice!". Kourin was teary eyed, finished preparing things for the morning meal three times faster than usual, and fled the room as though it would be wrong for her to be there and to leave them to themselves. There wasn't even a servant to wait on them. Shusui alone looked apologetic and stayed in a corner of the room.

Shuurei held her head. She looked at Ryuuki who was calmly eating breakfast resentfully. However, for some reason he was in an extremely good mood.

"......Ahhh sheesh. Why did you go past the pillow-......"

"Your face is red."

"---"

Shuurei threw her tea cup at him. However, Ryuuki caught it without problem. He was used to it now.

"That's dangerous isn't it."

"Unlike you, I'm not immune to that sort of thing! You idiot, you're the worst!!"

Shuurei slumped on the table.

"Ahhh---- Father and Seiran, what're they going to think when they hear this stupid rumour... what'll I do if they believe it-"

Ryuuki frowned annoyed. Shouka aside, "Why do you mention Seiran."

"But, but, but......!! It's the young girl's heart. You couldn't understand." Shuurei said as strange explanation. But somehow, it also seemed to make sense. "............Hey."

"What?"

............Nothing really ended up happening, right?" In truth, Shuurei only had a vague understanding of such things, and therefore couldn't determine on her own if something had or had not in fact happened. Actually, since the Emperor was attracted to men, such things shouldn't happen in the first place but, just in case. Just in case.

However, Ryuuki just looked away. Shuurei paled.

******p90

p93*****

"Hey, Seiran, did you hear about last night"

Seiran sighed inwardly at Shuuei's meaningful smile. The question was exactly as he'd expected.

"......You mean about her lady and his Majesty?"

"Right. What do you think?"

"So you ask but...... I figure most likely nothing happened."

"What's this, why do you think so. --Ahhh, come to think of it, you were guarding his chambers last night weren't you."

"Yes. He said he wanted to bridge the gap with his wife and left."

"......Seiran, there's only one way to bridge the gap between husband and wife."

"I didn't expect that being called by name is you way of bridging the gap with a woman."

Seiran smiled wryly at Shuuei's silence.

"Not to mention, before that, his majesty had been taking a nap in his room so, I expect he probably he fell asleep in the midst of talking or something similar."

"You're very composed. It's no fun not being able to tease you. ......hahah"

Surprised, Seiran pulled back when Shuuei wrapped his arm around his neck.

"Wh-what is it."

"Do you have any grounds for being so confident about things? Between you and Shuurei-dono."

"Wh-what are you saying. There's nothing."

Seiran tried to get away, but Shuuei wouldn't let go.

"Come to think of it, it's a very nice situation. Shouka-sama, you and Shuurei-dono living together. With the guard of the treasure being Shouka-sama, no doubt there were plenty of opportunities, and you're now over twenty and very much a man. Now, confess."

"I-I said there's nothing."

As the two men made a fuss grappling in the garden, suddenly the sharp sound of someone making a practise swing could be heard. The two of them, being much more skilled than average at swordsmanship stopped instantly at that sound.

"......That sound"

"Yeah, it's someone who's very skilled. ......But, why in a place like this rather than the practise field?"

Glancing at each other, the two let go of one another and went deeper into the garden.

They poked their heads out to look. --The one who was there was...

"Sou Taifu!?"

Unthinkingly both of them spoke aloud. At the sound of their voices, Sou Taifu stopped his practise and turned.

"The Ran family's young fellow and...... you are"

Sou Taifu looked at Seiran and narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment, Sou Taifu pointed his sword.

"--Just as well. Spar with me."

The sword pointed at a surprised Seiran.

"Ehh--- M-me!?"

"That's right"

Shuuei, with a look of great interest broke into a smile and silently withdrew a step.

******

Ignoring Seiran's dismay, Sou Taifu suddenly launched his attack. There was no mercy in his step. Seiran quickly drew his sword. The sharp sound of metal striking metal rang out.

"---You stopped that well"

"Sou Shogun......!"

******

"Seiran, was it"

"Y-yes"

Knocking back the sword, he tried to strike back, but Sou Taifu easily block his attack.

"How old are you."

"T-twenty-one"

"Really?"

Shuuei, listening to that conversation on the side, narrowed his eyes.

"I heard you were taken in thirteen years ago by Shouka. What were you doing before that?"

"Ah, umm......"

The instant he was distracted by the question, his sword was knocked out of his hand. At which point, Sou's sword was pointed directly at his throat.

"---You're quite good. At a glance, it seems like your own style."

As Sou Taifu spoke, he lowered his sword and sheathed it.

"But the forms you learn when your young don't disappear that easily. The form at the basis of your fighting style, it's very similar to one I know."

All expression vanished from Seiran's face. Sou Taifu glanced briefly a Shuuei.

"......The young fellow from the Ran family undoubtedly has also noticed. Afterall, he's from the Ran family, and also is of the shogun rank."

Shuuei simply shrugged his shoulders. Seiran silently put away his sword.

Sou Taifu continued evenly, "--I thought I'd never see it again. Because, of those who learned that form, all of them, except for one, are dead. Ryuuki was taught off and on by me, and doesn't know that form."

--The sole remaining person was exiled a long time ago.

"......that prince too, called me Sou *Shogun* like you did just a moment ago."

******

Seiran said nothing to the very end.

"---It doesn't matter, does it?" Shouka said nonchalantly.

"In other words, you slept in the same bed together, right? If nothing happened, there's no need to be so upset about it is there."

Shuurei clenched her fist trembling.

"--Father, I'm already sixteen you know. And he's a nineteen year old man!"

"You often have the same thing happen with Seiran."

Shouka looked at his daughter bemused.

"Even now, when there's thunder, who's the one who clings to Seiran screaming all night long."

Shuurei's cheeks turned bright red.

"Th-that's different!"

"......Really?"

"Never mind. I thought you'd be worried and came here right away."

"Worried? His Majesty's supposed to be attracted to men isn't he. Not to mention he's not the type to force someone."

"............"

Shuurei slumped on the desk. For some reason, she felt like it would've been better if he had been worried.

"That's right, I have something for you."

Remembering that, Shouka pulled out a small wooden box. Shuurei's eyes widened when she saw what lay inside the box.

"......Where did this come from!?"

"I got it from an acquaintance."

It was a beautiful, glimmering, silver tea set. It was a delicate and enchanting work. Shuurei realised at a glance that it was pure silver.

You got it...... It's not something of that sort of price!?

Shouka cocked his head slightly, "Hmm... But, since that person's so rich, it probably is "that sort of price". I don't think you need to worry about it

"......For all that you bury yourself in the archives, you're close to a lot of very important people."

I'd always thought father was a bit out of it, but instead he knows a lot of people. For Shuurei, that was a surprise.

*****p99

p103*****

Late at night, Kouyuu was, this night too, in the archives. Shuuei stood facing him. As Shouka was locked away in another room, they were the only two in the stacks.

Shuuei leaned against the bookcases. *****

"Shouka-sama took care of his studies, and Sou Taifu taught him martial arts... That he'd been learning from them for over ten years. In other words, his majesty has had the best literary and martial instructors in the country."

"......The Emperor had been here almost every day from morning to night******

p106*****

"---By the way, I heard you'd been summoned by your superior?"

Kouyuu's expression changed to a hard, penetrating look befitting of the court's greatest, most talented person.

"How did you know."

"I heard you'd spent half the day wandering about all over the place in the Department of Civil Affairs."

His hard expression fell apart instantly.

"Sh-sh-sh-shut up. My landmarks..."

"Yes yes. And?"

While his face was smiling, his eyes weren't smiling at all.

"--What was it about?"

Kouyuu closed his mouth. All expression vanished from his piercing eyes. After a moment he said, "---I was given a pure silver tea set for Shuurei."

The smile vanished from Shuuei's face.

*****p107

p111*****

The next morning.

Shuurei was shocked to find Ryuuki's face before her eyes.

--Wh-wh-wh-wh-why? I'd fallen asleep in one corner of the room with a blanket to avoid a repeat of yesterday morning, so why am I in a comfortable bed, not to mention, b-being held just like yesterday---.

"Aah, I carried you here in the middle of the night."

Ryuuki said composedly as they took their morning meal. Shuurei turned bright red and hit the table.

"Wh-wh-wh-why did you do such a thing---"

"But, that's your bed."

"I wanted to sleep on the floor!"

"If you sleep on a hard surface, your joints will ache the next day."

His comment held a strange sense of reality. However Shuurei's anger was not so readily defused.

"Even if that were the case, there's no reason to end up sleeping in that way is there?!"

Ryuuki continued eating a moment before answering here seriously, "But your body's so soft and feel so nice to sleep cuddled up like that. I can sleep really well.

Shuurei's face got redder and redder by the moment. Not from anger but from embarrassment. She wanted to yell, but not a sound came out. She'd never had anything like that said to her before.

(Someone bury either me or that idiot Emperor right here on the spot!) Shuurei screamed in her heart. She kicked Ryuuki out to attend the afternoon lecture on his own.

*****p112

That night--

"...Quit hanging around and come in."

Ryuuki, who'd been wandering around in the garden near Shuurei's bedroom, looked up at the sound of that voice. He looked relieved to see Shuurei being her usual self.

After a moment's hesitation,

"Hang on, isn't this on the level of a national treasure?", Shuurei'd started to say that, but stopped when she saw Ryuuki's face. She looked at the hair pin as it rang clearly.

"......It's beautiful. Did you choose it?"

Ryuuki nodded and Shuurei couldn't help smiling.

"Thank you."

He'd said he'd never gotten a present before. No doubt, it was the first time he'd ever gived someone a present as well, let alone choosing that present. Shuurei quickly gathered some of her hair and put the hairpin back in her hair.

"How's it look?"

Ryuuki smiled happily, "......Beautiful."

Shuurei turned bright red. Ryuuki was all the more to be feared given this penchant for saying such things so openly.

"I've given up. I'll play the erhu for you, so come inside."

Ryuuki's eyes were wide with surprise.

And then, from that night, he was no longer alone.