Finally this story is starting to get somewhere, although there is still more groundwork to be laid. Apologies for the delay, as per usual. I just couldn't be happy with anything in the writing/editing process so it took some time.
Judas rolled up the last scroll he had to review, preparing for the imminent reorganization of the Guard. In a tragic play of fortune, the Chikyuu kingdom had finally broken under pressure not to submit, but to wage war. Not only was this a sour turn of fate for both the army and the populace in the south, but it had also caused the early return of the court to Tenkujyou, hoping to remove to a more secure northern location before the Chikyuu troops could mobilize. The army was no longer fit to come to the succour of the rebellion should the plot be executed, and the movements of the conspirators would face more scrutiny upon the return of the Regent and primary governors. Judas had been counting on time to build their plans discreetly while the court was absent, but the early return had stolen any such time away. They would have to be even more cautious now, and Judas' workload had naturally increased with the return of the full palace guard.
Putting away the scroll on one of shelves, Judas hesitated over whether he should let things be for the night or try to seek out his pupil. The hour was late and it was possible that Shin had already finished his practice—if he had come out at all, for no doubt he too was busy preparing for the return of the court.
Thinking that it would ease his mind to see him, Judas decided to visit their usual meeting place on the chance that Shin might still be there. He took a lantern with him as he walked, for it was a moonless night. He watched as it drove away shadows from the wooden buildings and stone walkways he passed, the light flickering delicately as it moved. Many of the halls were dark at this hour, although a few were still illuminated from within, casting vague silhouettes through the windows covered by thick rice paper. As he passed one of the complexes of the palace servants another light appeared ahead, moving towards him. Upon drawing closer he saw a familiar face cast in the twinned light of the lanterns.
"Judas?" Shin said, coming to a stop before him. "I thought you would not come tonight."
"I apologize," Judas said. "My work has kept me."
"No need to apologize," Shin said. "No doubt there is much work left to you at the moment. I'm sorry that I'm only just retiring now."
"Now it is you who has no call to apologize," Judas replied, smiling.
"Yes, well," Shin replied, his gaze flickering briefly to the ground before looking back up again, "still I'm..."
Sensing he wasn't going to finish his thought, Judas cut in. "Truth be told, I was uncertain you would practice tonight at all. You are undoubtedly one of the hardiest people I know to practice even in such cold."
"It is chilly enough, to be sure, but here it is not bitterly cold in the way that my home is," Shin answered, deferring the praise. "But perhaps you'd like to accompany me to my rooms? I could offer you something to drink, at least, to escape the chill."
"I'd be happy to," Judas said, genuinely heartened by the thought. This was the first time since he had met the nobleman that they'd shared an encounter beyond the training ground, and he felt a keen desire to speak with Shin in a less ascetic environment.
Shin smiled and began to lead the way to his quarters. After a little while they entered the main complex of buildings and Judas followed Shin throughout the winding ways of the palace, almost unnavigable for those unfamiliar with it. On the way Shin stopped one of the palace attendants, asking that a kettle of water be sent to his rooms.
A little ways on Shin finally came to a halt and opened a door upon the left of the long hallway, entering in. Shin took Judas' lantern from him and rested both of them beside the door. Taking up a long match, he used the still burning flame of one of the lanterns to light the rest of the room, chasing away the darkness.
Judas studied the main room, which was not very grand, but well-appointed and comfortable. There were scrolls scattered on every surface, which Shin seemed to have some embarrassment about as he hastily cleared off his working table, moving the table out to the centre of the room and offering Judas a seat.
"I'm sorry for the state of my humble quarters," Shin said, his cheeks slightly flushed. "I hadn't had it in mind when I invited you here."
"You forget I live in the barracks; there is nothing offensive about your quarters at all," Judas said with a smile. Looking about, he spoke again, "This clearly is a scholar's room. I've never seen so many scrolls gathered in one place. Are they all literature?"
"Many are, yes," Shin said, "but a good number concern laws, decrees, and census data as well as registries related to my work. The Ministry of Rites requires thorough record-keeping to help keep to tradition and understand the changing yields of each year."
"Is that so?" Judas asked, waiting for Shin to explain further.
"We need to know what each han and domain is able to render in tribute to the capital, from which we take portions to dedicate to the gods during the important ritual days, in order to make sure we do no less service to them during the subsequent years. It also enables us to understand the distribution of the supplies that pass through the provinces," Shin said as he tried to stack a collapsing pile of scrolls more securely. Judas moved to help, but Shin waved him at him to sit down again. "I can manage," he said, redistributing the pile before moving to take a seat opposite Judas.
As he sat a knock sounded at the door. "Enter," Shin called out. The servant whom he had spoken with earlier brought in a four-legged tray, resting it upon the desk that now served as a table. Upon it sat a kettle of hot water as well as a few brewing utensils. Receiving no other indication from Shin, she bowed her head and left.
Shin stood up and rummaged around his shelves, moving scrolls around as he searched, upsetting the pile he had just restacked. From the disarray he managed to produce two porcelain drinking cups and a teapot with considerable ease, but then seemed quite unable to find what else he was looking for. At last he recovered a brick of tea from a small box underneath a pile of ink brushes. Setting down the leaves next to the tray, he picked up the kettle with his bare hands, neglecting to use the cloth to hold it, and nearly dropped it as it burned his hands.
"Are you alright?" Judas said, leaping up as Shin cradled the hand that had gripped the hot iron.
"It's fine," Shin said, laughing in embarrassment, "it's fading quickly. I'm always too mindless when it comes to making things. My head was elsewhere."
"Would you mind if I prepared the tea instead?" Judas said as Shin continued to hold his injured hand tightly against his chest.
"It doesn't seem quite right as the host," Shin said, trailing off at the end.
"Do not worry," Judas said, picking up the kettle with care and pouring its contents over the pot and cups, letting the water carefully drip over the sides to the tray underneath, warming the vessels. "A guest should show gratitude to the host as well."
Judas rarely had the opportunity to prepare his own meals, but he remembered from boyhood how he found the process relaxing, and although he could not serve tea as formally as one with long practice, he still had observed the ritual many times and could remember the steps and the manner of pouring. After preparing the pot and drinking cups, he cut the tea leaves into the teapot and began carefully pouring the hot water once more. The leaves danced within the teapot, cycling to the top before settling down again at the bottom. Judas picked up the spoon and carefully removed the bubbles from the surface before placing the lid on the pot and pouring the first brew.
Shin watched quietly in appraisal as he completed the initial steps. After discarding the first brew, Judas poured the tea for the second time, the greenish-brown colour deeper now in hue. When the pot had been set down, at last they both moved to take up their cups and enjoy the warmth the tea brought.
"You have many unexpected talents," Shin said as he put his cup down to rest on the table. "How did you come to choose the Royal Guard?"
Judas paused for a moment, unsure where to start the tale.
"I apologize if I'm being too intrusive," Shin said suddenly, his face becoming flushed. "Forget my indecorousness, please."
"No," Judas said, surprised. "No, you've nothing to worry about. I was just collecting my thoughts. It's a roundabout story, that's all." Shin looked reassured but still flustered and so Judas kept talking. "My father was a soldier. He and my mother passed away from illness when I was still very young, from that sickness that swept through the imperial city almost twenty years ago now."
Shin nodded at this. It had been recorded as one of the greatest times of loss of life in Tenkujyou's recent history.
"I was taken in by different relatives over the years, but it was difficult for them to afford keeping me as my parents' legacy ran out, and so I changed households frequently. Eventually my great uncle made contact with me, and had it in mind to adopt me as his heir. He was a successful merchant, and traveled for long periods, so I got to see much of the surrounding lands of Tenkujyou during that time. However, may his spirit find rest, he passed away when I was twelve years old—too young to properly inherit and not legally entitled to his property, and none of my relatives saw fit to take me in any longer. A friend of his arranged that I should be taken into the palace on his recommendation, to train towards some useful end among the staff. I worked for a while as apprentice to one of the butchers but then chance struck when..." Judas paused, reaching a somewhat delicate topic.
"When?" Shin asked.
"When the former General," Judas continued, leaving Lucifer's name unspoken, "happened to cross my path one day. Apparently I resemble my father quite strongly, and he had enough memory of the men whom he had served with, even after so long a time had passed, to know me on sight. Although I was young, he had it in mind to recommend me to train for the palace guard instead. I don't know if his hope was that someday I too would enlist in the army, but I found considerable success training among the guard, and eventually Lord Zeus himself took notice of me. And so I arrived here, with no small amount of good fortune."
Shin was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on his hands around his teacup. "You are truly admirable," he said at last, looking up with a warm smile.
Judas wasn't quite sure how to respond to the compliment so instead he tried to shift the conversation away from himself. "I must say, looking at all these scrolls, I am impressed by the extent of your learning."
"I am fortunate that the records and resources here in the palace are so extensive. Being able to access them has helped me on many projects. My family's libraries can't compare."
"What sorts of projects?" Judas asked with curiosity.
"Ah, well, various things," Shin said. "Mostly theoretical endeavours. Mathematical formulae. Ancient music. That sort of thing."
"Music?" Judas said as he reached for the teapot to pour them both another draught.
"Well, that one is partly practical too. Recently I was attempting to reconstruct an instrument I read about in a treatise on acoustics and the properties of different instrumental materials."
"That's incredible," Judas said. "Were you successful?"
"I think so, although it's impossible to be certain. Aside from a few paintings of the instrument to guide me and what description can be gleaned from the treatise, there wasn't much information to sustain the project. Moreover, the original material I was using achieved a poor resonance and I had to make some modifications that may have falsely amplified the sound. And while I managed to recreate the four basic tonal ratios given in the treatise, the rest are conjectural and..." realizing he had lost Judas in the scientific description, he stopped himself.
"Would you like to see it?" Shin said, instead.
"I'd love to," Judas replied.
Shin stood and slid open the door to one of the chambers further in. Not long after, he emerged holding an instrument unlike anything Judas had ever seen. It was tall, reaching as tall as Shin when held at the waist, and its curved shape was unusual. The silk strings appeared to have been threaded through the top of the instrument, folding back in double courses, creating a thin web across the frame.
Judas seemed somewhat awestruck by the instrument.
"Would you like to hear it?" Shin asked.
"Yes."
Shin smiled and took his seat once more, carefully balancing the konghou in his lap, directing the strings away from his body. Judas watched as Shin's fingers, practiced and precise, moved across the strings, plucking them to produce a song that seemed to cast a spell upon him. Enchanted by the music, the dimness of the room, the scent of the tea and the graceful movement of his pupil's hands upon the strings, Judas forgot his cares for the first time in a very long time, however short-lived that peace was to be.
The great hall was brilliantly lit with yellow and red lanterns, while paper garlands decorated the room in long chains hung across the ceiling. The return of the court was being celebrated by a large feast given by the Regent, who had invited every courtier and official within the city to attend the lavish banquet. Shin sat at one of the sidelong tables among many of the other young courtiers as the dishes were cleared to make way for further courses.
Lord Zeus sat at the head of the room as was custom, his commanding aura not diminished in the festive atmosphere. Although the war with Chikyuu was a cause of worry to many, Zeus would never show any weakness in front of the whole host of the Tenkujyou nobility, and Shin was certain war had been Zeus' aim to begin with. He provoked matters into such a state and while it had once again rallied the common people behind the empire's cause, the suffering undergone by the citizens living along the border of both kingdoms would surely be terrible.
Shin tried to quell these thoughts for the moment and remain impassive. Now that he could not breathe as freely as he had before in absence of the court, he especially needed to maintain the mask of neutrality. Tensions were rising quietly among the nobility, and the war provided a convenient excuse for Zeus to weed out any who might cause trouble.
Shin was distracted from his thoughts by the servants bringing out yet more delicacies to feast on. He picked up one of the boiled quail eggs with his chopsticks and lifted it to his mouth, enjoying the savoury flavour imparted by the dressing. Around the hall the conversation came to a low lull as the music died.
A group of dancers decked in white patterned garments, each with one of the long sleeves dyed the colour of bellflowers, had entered the room and stood in the centre of the hall. Rei, who had left the head table earlier, stood in front of them. It wasn't unusual for his cousin to be asked to perform during celebrations, but Shin wondered if this display wasn't a further attempt on Zeus' part to show solidarity between his governance and the last living member of the Suzaku house during a tumultuous time. Before the court left for the winter, his cousin had increasingly been in attendance of state functions, although his presence seemed more ornamental than participatory. It might also be that the regent was trying to keep a closer eye on his charge, to whom he had previously paid little heed. Doubtless as his cousin grew older he seemed a greater threat to Zeus' authority, simply for being still alive, even if he held no designs for the state.
Whatever the reason, his cousin now stood at the centre of the hall, and spoke with a ringing voice. "To honour the guests of this feast, I, the Crown Prince, Suzaku no Rei have prepared this humble entertainment for you as you dine. May your hearts delight in the dance and the song; may your eyes and ears have their fill of contentment; may it warm you against the receding winter, as the spring awakens."
The dancers fell into position, forming a square column, while Rei gestured to the court musicians who struck two knocks against a wooden block, signalling their readiness before beginning their song. The dancers moved into two sections, slowly breaking away from each other to form two diagonal columns. In a sudden motion they extended their arms above their heads, the flowing sleeves creating a burst of purple, soaring upward before falling gracefully down. The columns of dancers circled around each other, once again becoming a single unit. They spun around, the stomp of their sandals matching the percussion as they struck the ground in precise rhythms. As they turned, the flowing sleeves trailed their movements, shifting colours of purple and white rising and falling.
Although Shin himself found little pleasure in dancing and counted himself fortunate to seldom be called upon to perform, he could appreciate the art of it. Certainly his cousin was nimble enough after long training. Shin watched as he leaned gracefully in time with the others, shifting his weight deeply to the left and holding perfectly still before shifting back in a single movement and mimicking the motion on the right, all the rows of dancers in almost perfect tandem.
Looking back to the Regent, Shin observed as he and the Minister of the Left spoke to each other in hushed conversation. Curiosity waged war with his better sense, wishing to know the words that passed among the higher ministries and yet aware of the danger of getting in too close. His position in the Ministry of Rites was safe at the moment—given in recognition of his talent, but nothing that could be considered undue, nor politically significant. Trying to aim for anything higher at such as time as this could be disastrous. Assignment to some military appointment in the south was a prospect Shin dearly wished to avoid.
His attention came back to the performance as the dancers came to a standstill before suddenly scattering in all directions, resuming their striking of the floor as they spun, creating a dynamic wave of colour that seemed both vivid and illusory. The music, a variation on a poem by a famous general nearly a hundred years past, was haunting in its escalation, the sad melody becoming more forceful and sweeping as the song progressed, the musicians performing their part no less diligently than those who danced.
The dancers moved in circles, passing each other once before sweeping by again from a different angle, the two lines increasingly becoming entangled in the speed and closeness with which they crossed. Once again they formed a single unit, the left sleeves held high and level above the dancers' heads, forming a tall wall of white, while the footsteps of the dancers crept first one way, then another, the white curtain looming as it moved in each direction. Returning to face the centre, the wall was suddenly broken in a wave as the dancers circled their arms downwards, extending their purple-sleeved arms in a similar motion, chasing one colour away with the next. The insistence of the rhythm which they tapped with their sandals increased, and the music began to reach its dramatic peak.
Having dispersed outwards in one great burst of colour, the dancers now walked backwards towards each other, slowly coming into a tight formation, their torsos bent to make them seem as small and closely knit as possible. Finally, as the music became quieter still, they held their right arms before their chests in a bow, the long purple sleeves hanging to their feet against a backdrop of pure white, the flurry of colour finally hushed as the dancers came to a complete standstill and the music trailed off.
Having finished with their performance, the dancers prepared to disperse, until the Regent signalled for them to stay. Shin watched as Zeus beckoned Rei to come back to high table, and the conversation which had picked up once again died down a little so that the Regent might be heard.
"We have been deeply honoured by this excellent performance. As a token of recognition, I, Lord Zeus, would that you take a draught from this cup in honour of your talent."
Shin suppressed any reaction, but could have shaken his head at the temerity. While it was certainly a very high honour, and customary for the ruler to bestow upon entertainers, he had never before bestowed it upon Rei in this manner. Whatever Zeus' power and authority, sharing his cup with the Crown Prince, whose pedigree was above his, was in questionable taste. Shin had no doubt this was part of the changing face of Zeus' politics, becoming more determined to connect his cousin to his regime while still subordinating Rei in order to preserve his authority.
Observing Rei, however, his cousin seemed little bothered by this act, perhaps simply happy to be receiving such praise, or perhaps his mind was elsewhere, not caught up with these careful shows of power. Shin knew he had a tendency to over-think matters, but there was hardly any alternative for him. Knowledge would be power in this climate, and Shin refused to sink within it.
Maya carefully slid out of the barracks of the guards, carrying with him only a small pack, one carefully arranged and checked over many times. His brother had chastised him harshly earlier for wanting to bring too many unnecessary things. Nonetheless, he refused to listen entirely, some of his most precious possessions packed securely amongst the more needful items.
He stealthily made his way across the mazelike roads in the palace complex, carefully avoiding meeting anyone on the path, occasionally doubling back and taking a different route in order to not been seen. He couldn't help but feel extremely wistful every time he caught sight of the uniformed guards patrolling past him as he carefully stayed out of their line of vision. The full guard had only just recently returned to the palace, and he had been able to meet with Gai only a few times since. Reuniting with his friend was perhaps the happiest moment he had felt in a long time, but he also felt guilty knowing there were so many secrets now standing in between them, and he didn't know how to mask his feelings properly in front of him. Gai too, in spite of his usual high-spirited and talkative behaviour, had seemed a little different, and Maya was afraid his own face had given away something was wrong. Nonetheless, Gai had regaled him with stories of Yugong, and given him a precious gift that was now safely stored among his things.
Watching from atop the tiles of the low roof as the pair of guards passed close by, Maya turned his focus back to the present. The long, hard training of the special corps of the Guard had honed his skills such that he, like his comrades, was almost undetectable unless pure chance should conspire against him. Fortunately, everything was in his favour tonight, and he quickly made his way over the outer wall of the palace, not far from one of the minor gateways that exited the grounds, just out of sight of the guards stationed on that section of the palace.
"Are you ready, brother?" Maya whispered as quietly as he could.
Kira, only just visible in the light thrown from the lamps of the gateway, silenced him with a gesture. Maya wanted to ask him a million things: how long he had been waiting, whether he had any trouble. He wanted to rest his head on his shoulder like he did when they were younger and let himself cry as he felt his heart sinking as they left the Imperial Palace, their home since childhood, behind without a word to any of their friends. He bore himself up however, for they both were resolved on their decision to leave the capital and strike out on their own. When Kira had told him the plan at first, he had railed against it, but he trusted his brother's judgement in the end. Although he never explained why, Kira had said that the palace had become a toxic and dangerous environment, and that they needed to leave while they were still the only ones who knew their secret. Because he trusted his brother, Maya was able to steel himself. If Kira said they had to go, then they should go. And now that they had finally made a breakthrough concerning their parentage, Maya too needed to confront the man who had abandoned them when they were young. Therefore, he followed Kira without a word, and without leaning on his brother's strength as he was in the habit of. The dark of the night swallowed them in silence as they made their way southwards through the imperial district, leaving the lights of the city behind them.
Luca moved his fingers lightly through Rei's unbound hair, brushing it back from his still-flushed cheek. The bliss of reunion was written on both of their faces, their tired limbs tangled in fond embrace. Still, a shadow hung over Luca's heart, one that could not simply be quelled by the echoing beat of his lover's heart against his breast.
"I've worried for you," he murmured softly, his lips brushing against Rei's cheek, tracing his skin with a feathery touch.
"There's no need to worry now," Rei said, his eyelids fluttering open to meet Luca's worried gaze with a reassuring look. "The trouble in the south is far away from here."
"I..." Luca trailed off, hesitating to answer with the nagging thought that that wasn't truly what he was afraid of. He watched as the bright eyes before him dimmed in the held silence.
"Things will be fine for now, I think," Rei said. "I'm just glad that we're both here. That's enough, for the moment."
Too many apprehensions besieged Luca's mind, thoughts which he couldn't unveil to anyone. Luca tried to suppress the great well of trepidation inside him that his involvement with the rebellion had provoked. The knowledge of the intended execution of their plans gnawed at him, and yet everything was held in such a precarious balance he could see no way to reconcile the pieces. He wanted to unburden his mind and share his cares, but he was all too aware of the danger waiting in every action and word. There was no place in the capital that was truly safe for the son of the former emperor, and there was little he could do to prevent or protect anything as it was.
Rei reached up to stroke Luca's cheek, cutting in to the waste of Luca's thoughts. "Did you know it's nearly been a year since first we met?"
"It's not easily forgotten," Luca said, reaching up to cup Rei's hand in his own, brushing his thumb against his palm and kissing it lightly before moving their clasped hands to rest at his chest. "Although at times it seemed almost like it had to be an illusion."
"Or a dream," Rei said. "I never thought to see you again, after I woke up from it."
"I would have come back here before long whether in dreams or in the waking world," Luca said, tender affection written upon his face. "Such is the spell you cast."
"What kind of spell?" Rei said laughing.
"With your eyes, with your lips, with your words and your heart," Luca said, brushing a line of kisses from the tip of Rei's ear down to his chin as he spoke.
"You cast the very same spell on me," Rei said, tipping up Luca's chin so that their foreheads brushed together, their eyes taking in their fill of each other.
"Then I'm happy to share in the blame," Luca said, smiling in spite of his cares. He leaned forward and captured Rei's lips with his own, kissing him as his lover's arms tightened around him, pulling him deeply down into his embrace. There was no hurry in their lovemaking tonight, but Luca could not fully escape his fears even in the throes of passion. His world should be no more than the simple pleasure of skin against skin, the building tension of arousal and ardour, the way their bodies moved against each other, familiar, loving, keen to share in affection in the short time they had, but even as they came together after so long apart Luca couldn't chase away his disquiet.
"Rei," Luca gasped out against his lover's hair, the tension breaking as he reached his climax, held fast between his lover's thighs. His voice was joined by Rei's own as he too reached his peak. The tired haze of satiation took over them, and looking into the bright eyes of his lover Luca could think of few times in his life that he had ever felt so vulnerable. "I love you," Luca said, so quietly it was almost a whisper. "Always remember that I love you."
"What was it...'It's not easily forgotten,'" Rei said, smiling. "By either of us."
They both knew that time was slipping away, but for just one moment more Luca wished to rest in the arms of his lover, and savour their reunion.
