"You just haven't seen it yet."
Three days had come and gone since Sha Goyjo had arrived to his palace. The half-demon's words echoed around in Prince Sanzo's mind, and he found them to be quite annoying. He knew what his lands were like, how cold and deadly the lands surrounding his ancestral home could be when the Gods decided they were angry enough to unleash their fury. Those words had yet to leave his mind, and the blond-haired prince wanted them to leave him so he could focus on other issues.
Unlike other members of royalty, Prince Sanzo understood he needed to take an active part in how his kingdom operated. Happy subjects were loyal subjects, something his father had taught him many years ago. While he really did not care for people in general and would much prefer traveling to staying confined in one place, he knew he could not escape the burdens placed upon him by right of birth. For him to do so would be both cowardly and dishonourable, and Prince Sanzo knew he was neither. He would be strong for his people. He would care for them as he knew he ought. However, he hoped to one day be free to leave as he pleased, to see the world and all it had to offer. His wife had given him a taste of what lay beyond his borders, and Prince Sanzo found he liked what he had experienced. Her untimely death had ended all of that for him, and Sanzo hated her for leaving him as she had.
That was part of his reasoning when he summoned various artists, musicians, crafters, and actors from distant lands. He wanted to see what they could offer him in knowledge and in freedom from the humdrum life he led. He wanted to smile again, to know if happiness still tasted sweet. The mission of these individuals was to make him smile, both before and after his official coronation celebration, when he went from Prince to Emperor.
So far, only one continued to haunt Prince Sanzo. Sha Goyjo, the half-demon artist known for his ability to convey emotion and great beauty in his pieces. It did not help that Goyjo hid his works from Prince Sanzo and the other artist staying at the palace, and it drove the blond-haired man insane with curiosity. He knew the half-demon was working on something. He had started as soon as he felt his paints were no longer frozen from the cold, and he had kicked Prince Sanzo out of his chambers. Every time he tried to speak with Sha Goyjo or to enter the half-demon's chambers, he was refused. Sha Goyjo would step outside his room, for only a moment, when Prince Sanzo wanted to speak with him, but the prince never stepped a foot into the room since his first meeting.
"Is there something the matter, your majesty?"
Prince Sanzo blinked when he heard his servant, Cho Hakkai, speak to him, and he immediately shook his head. The green-eyed man studied him for a moment then offered him a smile and bowed.
"It is hardly my business anyway," the man said. "You summoned me?"
"Yes," Prince Sanzo said. "I understand the other artist, Segumi Houjo, is ready for me to see his works. While it pleases me to hear this, it also disturbs me. How is that possible? Do you know?"
"He brought most of his paintings with him, your majesty," Hakkai replied.
"What has he been doing since his arrival?" Sanzo demanded, a little more than irritated with Hakkai's news. The other man shrugged.
"I am not sure, my liege. Like the half-demon, Segumi Houjo has also sequestered himself away until now."
To this, Prince Sanzo exhaled. He did not understand the differences between the two artists, Segumi Houjo and Sha Goyjo, and he felt he probably never would. Rising to his feet, he motioned for his servant to lead the way.
As they traversed through the palace halls, Prince Sanzo could not help but notice the variety of people now filling his home. Flutists and lutists played together in corners, and there were jugglers tossing their cloth balls in time with the music. A few of the summoned actors huddled together in the halls, reciting lines and laughing at some joke or another. All paused when they saw the prince and all bowed to show their respect for him. The prince understood why they did – he was royalty, after all, a thought that irked him to no end – but the one sight that he did not understand was the sight of Sha Goyjo among the musicians. He was not playing an instrument, but he certainly seemed to enjoy what they had been playing. The prince stopped when he saw the half-demon.
"I thought you were working," he stated, his tone cold.
"I'm taking a break," Goyjo replied, winking. The half-demon then bowed. Sanzo thought it to be a rather mocking gesture. "I was also on my way to see his majesty when the lovely sounds of the musicians captured my attention. I simply had to take a moment to listen. Would you not agree that they are playing wonderfully today?"
"They are," Sanzo grudgingly admitted. "Why did you wish to see me?"
"I wish to paint your likeness," the half-demon said. "That is, if it's all right with his majesty."
"I'll think about," Sanzo said, his tone terse. "Now if you'll excuse me, there is somewhere I need to be."
"As you wish, your majesty."
Prince Sanzo never bothered to say another word to the half-demon. He simply turned and continued on his way. He never noticed the half-demon's smirk or appreciative glance in his direction. He only knew he wanted to see Segumi Houjo's works and be done with it. Maybe then Sha Goyjo would not be in his mind so much.
'I only hope Segumi Houjo is as good as his emperor claims,' Sanzo thought, his mood a little sour but not dark. 'Because if he isn't, then it's been nothing but a waste of my time.'
And again, his thoughts turned to Sha Goyjo.
"Therein is the beauty, the enchantment. The world outside is blanketed in white and still shimmers when the sun shines upon the earth. It is like looking at glass."
"There's nothing enchanting about it."
"Sure there is. You just haven't seen it yet."
'And I hope you don't disappoint me, either. Because if you do . . . I don't know what I would do.'
xxX-Saiyuki-Xxx
Hakkai refrained from smiling at the exchange between the Prince Sanzo and the artist Sha Goyjo. The two were greatly different in personalities yet, the way Hakkai saw it, they were bantering like old friends. It pleased the green-eyed man to see such a sight. Even if Prince Sanzo did not care for Sha Goyjo's works, once they were unveiled, the two would definitely continue their association. Goyjo possessed a trait Prince Sanzo needed. Hakkai saw it, and, in time, the prince would as well.
Then again, Hakkai did not doubt Sha Goyjo would fail in impressing Prince Sanzo with his works. He also did not doubt Segumi Houjo would fail, either. Both artists were among the best throughout the lands – Hakkai had seen their works once when he had traveled abroad with Prince Sanzo's father – and it was because they were both able to capture certain elements in their works. Houjo was known for his simplicity and his ability to convey childlike wonder in each of his paintings. Goyjo painted that which he thought was beautiful and breathtaking. Both artists would aim to please Prince Sanzo, at least as far as the artwork was concerned. Their time in the palace would be interesting, if nothing else.
'I'm so glad the prince agreed to this,' Hakkai thought as he led the younger man to Segumi Houjo's chambers. 'He needs this. More than anything.'
xxX-Saiyuki-Xxx
Prince Sanzo could not believe what he was seeing. Framed artwork sat before him, each depicting images of people and things he had never seen before and each possessing a rather childlike wonder, something he did not understand. Segumi Houjo was explaining to him about some of his country's customs, such as the giving of gifts to loved ones around a holiday known as Yule and how children loved to play in the snow. Such concepts confused the prince, and he wondered just how prosperous Segumi Houjo's emperor had to be.
Finally, the other man stopped talking, and his dark eyes landed on Prince Sanzo. He tilted his head.
"Prince Sanzo, I understand you have summoned one other artist," Houjo said. "And that the other artist is none other than Sha Goyjo."
"Yes. What of it?" Prince Sanzo all but growled.
"He is a truly fascinating man," the artist explained. "My emperor has been trying for a few years now to summon him to his lands, but Sha Goyjo has never once replied. His acceptance of your summons has my lord completely baffled."
"What he chooses to do is his own business," Sanzo stated. "Why would you even bring that up anyway?"
"Because I wish to see Sha Goyjo's work," Houjo replied, his tone bordering on sad. "They say he is able to convey deep emotions and beauty in his works. I wish to see why my emperor would now pass me over for a half-demon artist."
"You paint commonplace people and places," Sanzo said. "And nothing else. Perhaps your emperor is tired of seeing the things he knows about and cares nothing for."
"That is harsh, Prince Sanzo," Houjo said, his tone one of disbelief and shock. "How can you be so unforgiving?"
"Because the world is unforgiving," he answered. "If you wish to keep pleasing your emperor, start painting the things he hasn't seen before. Now, if you'll excuse me . . ."
Without another word and without waiting to hear what the other man had to say, Prince Sanzo turned and left the room. All the while, his thoughts were on Sha Goyjo, and he could not help but wonder the same thing as Segumi Houjo's emperor. Why had Sha Goyjo declined one summons but accepted his? It made no sense.
'I guess there's only one way to find out,' he told himself. 'The half-demon wishes to paint my likeness. That's exactly what he's going to do.'