Chapter 5: The Lord of Three Worlds
Yasha loomed over Ashura like a dangerous shadow as they stepped out of the vimana. There was a small crowd of gods moving to and fro, but no faces he knew; those had passed away with time-- or the destruction Ashura had wrought more than two thousand years before.
They walked side by side along a gracefully curved causeway, led on by the pilot in golden armor. Ashura slowed suddenly, turning a little toward Yasha, and whispered fiercely, "Let go of my arm!"
Yasha said nothing, but his iron grip remained firm. Yamato hung at his side as he surveyed their surroundings carefully with his one good eye. These gods had every reason to want Ashura dead. As a troupe of armed guards fell in unobtrusively behind them, he was beginning to wish that he had never succumbed to Ashura's pleading, never brought them here.
Ashura was so nervous and edgy that Yasha could barely keep his companion's attention. "Look there!" he said, pointing at a great open hanging garden in the center of the city. A waterfall fell from it to splash into a pool a hundred feet below. White peacocks could be seen perched on golden branches, and flowers drifted downward, cast by lovers. The vision kept Ashura calm for all of ten seconds.
"Ashura," murmured Yasha, aware that those demon-ears could pick up the faintest whisper. "If you do not settle down, you will surely ruin your audience with the Emporer."
Ashura shot him a look just short of murder. The perfect pink lips formed a phrase: Will you please let go of me Now! Yasha pretended he had not understood and waited stoically for a well-aimed kick. It was amazing how strong Ashura was and how much those bare feet could hurt. He had learned that ages ago, when Ashura was still a child and throwing tantrums not unlike the one which was about to erupt right now. But Ashura maintained some restraint, the fair face only whipping abruptly away from him, chin held high. In any other situation, Yasha would have been amused. This time, however, he pulled Ashura closer still, his eye barely tinged with red. "Ashura! This is life and death! I am trying to protect you! Listen to me!"
Ashura did not acknowledge the sentence. A thousand emotions were passing across that face, the predominant one, fear.
They passed beneath the floating gardens and down a long hallway festooned with guards in red velvet. The charioteer stopped the party before a tall pair of golden doors. "This is the audience room," she announced. "You will wait here until Tentei Tenou is ready to see you." With that, she left... and Yasha's sense of the miko, Shukidevi, left with her. He glanced back over his shoulder in surprise.
Ashura was still trying to squirm out of his grasp. Yasha decided to let his ward go, and was surprised that his grip had left deep red welts in the fine white skin of Ashura's upper arm. "Ashura," he said. "I am sorry."
"I do not need your help now!" Ashura hissed. Yasha knew better than to say any more, and merely kept close, all senses more watchful than ever. After awhile they were let into a waiting chamber. But when the final door opened after an interminable period of time, it was Yasha who was first beckoned inside, alone.
Ashura's face flooded with shock, but Yasha returned the sternest of looks before vanishing. Ashura looked around wildly. The half dozen guards looked as terrified as Ashura felt. After a moment's hesitation, Ashura sank to bare knees on a nearby cushion, restraining a sob with the greatest of effort. The nightmare was coming true.
* * *
Emporer Tenou sat on his golden throne, and Yasha knelt on the steps at his feet. They were viewing Ashura through a glass hidden from Ashura's sight by a veil. Tenou's introduction to Yasha had been kind but cursory; he was focused intently on his twin. "My brother is a beautiful creature," Tenou said finally. "I think I have never seen anyone so beautiful, except long ago..." He fell painfully silent.
"Ashura is not male," Yasha said quietly.
"I know. Not female either, or so the legend goes. But the least I can do is use an honorific. "Prince Ashura." Why do you not honor my brother, Yasha-ou?"
"I do honor Ashura. I honor Ashura as my god, as my life. But not as man or woman, Tentei. Ashura is truly neither."
Ashura was sitting quietly, looking down at the floor, resigned to what might come; but Yasha could still see tension-- Black Ashura crawling beneath the pale skin-- and he knew whatever happened to him would determine the fate of Tenou.
"Well," the Emporer said at last. He was tall, with full flowing red hair and pleasant yet penetrating eyes. Yasha saw much of his father in him, but much was very different as well. And despite his handsomeness, Tenou was Ashura's absolute opposite, as the day to the night-- settled, harboring no hidden darkness. "What shall I do with you two? I cannot have you running loose like tigers in the forest. That is why I had my miko Shuki call you to me. Yet, if I keep you here, the people will be divided."
Yasha thought carefully before speaking. "You could have let us die in that snowstorm... yet you saved us. I cannot imagine that the Sons of Aditi were pleased."
"The Council does not know, and you will not mention it again. But I did not want my brother to die without having a chance to meet him."
"You saw what took place at the old Zenmijou two thousand years ago. Ashura suicided rather than kill me."
"It was a near thing."
"It was a near thing." Yasha nodded.
"How came he to life again?"
"Kujaku took pity on us. He bought a miracle with his own blood."
"Ah...! That is why he has disappeared!" Tenou sighed. "Kujaku was part Mazoku, but he was also my friend, Yasha-ou."
"He was dear to us as well. And, he was also a Hoshimi." Yasha's face was dark. "Ashura woke to the sight of Kujaku dying."
"But why should Kujaku take pity on you? Why should he do such a thing?"
Yasha hesitated, looking at Tenou strangely. "I waited two thousand years for Ashura's resurrection, Tentei... and Kujaku watched over us all that time. He must have spoken to you of your twin many times. Ashura is my sworn companion!"
"Your sworn companion?"
"How could you not know of this?" Yasha was genuinely curious. The "Story of Death and Destruction," as their legend was known in the little village near the old Zenmijou, was widespread
"I want to know what it means," Tenou said with great frankness. "Are you lovers?"
"Ashura is my only beloved," Yasha said almost helplessly, feeling a traitorous hint of color in his face. "We are wedded by Gandharva rite." Then he caught Tenou's look and knew that the Emporer had only been testing him. Yasha glanced away sheepishly, deeply embarrassed, but Tenou smiled kindly. "If you will speak of your love for my own brother in front of me, if you will admit you are wedded to him by Gandharva rite without anyone's permission, you are true indeed, Yasha-ou. But again... What shall I do with you?"
Yasha drew a deep breath. "You have two choices. Either kill us, or let us be. And it would not be intelligent to kill me, for I am Death, and where would you be then? When the time comes, I will take care of all."
"How will you take care of 'all?'"
"We made a promise to one another that we would be together always. I intend to keep it."
"But when you are old? When you really do die, and Death is no more, unless you have an heir?"
"I said, I intend to keep my promise."
"You are planning to kill Ashura with your own hands?!"
"Best at the hands of a loved one. Also, no one else is capable. Perhaps not even you, Tentei. But I can promise you this. I will not let the Dark Ashura loose upon Tenkai a second time."
Silence.
"It is the sword, Yamato," Yasha explained. "Kujaku foresaw all which would happen. He forged this sword ages past, and gave him to the Yasha clan. Yamato is the mate of Shurato, and he can control her-- and her bearer."
Tenou frowned. "What is this? If Yamato can control Shurato, why didn't you use it when Black Ashura was first loosed upon us?"
"I did not know how to control Shurato until it was too late."
"Kujaku was, as you say, Hoshimi as well as Mazoku. I will tell you the circumstances of his birth, if you do not know it already."
"I know it." Yasha bowed his head, remembering his two thousand year wait... Remembering Kujaku coming to him with food, medicine, clothing, news... That irritating manner, but the warmth... Suddenly he shut his eyes, pushing old memories aside ruthlessly. Despite everything the stargazer had done for him, he must forget Kujaku.
Tenou persisted and Yasha wondered briefly how much he knew. "Why did he not train you in the use of that sword? Why did he allow the destruction of the old Zemijou? Why did he allow all the death?"
"I don't know," Yasha said honestly. It was a question he had asked the winged one many times. "I cannot understand it. Ashura loved Kujaku and that love was returned truly. Kujaku surely had a reason and motives of his own... Perhaps it was an assignment from gods higher than us."
Tenou was silent for a long time. Then: "We must speak more of our old friend sometime, Yasha-ou. As for you... I remember you well. You were in my father's service. You were loyal until asked to do the unreasonable, and have always been respected in Tenkai. Guards! Prepare to close the curtain and allow Prince Ashura to enter!"
"Tentei," Yasha said suddenly, bowing at the Emporer's feet so his forehead rested against the cold stone steps, his hair falling down around him. "For Ashura's sake, I beg for mercy. Have mercy! Be kind to Ashura, who has known such hardship!" His voice broke on the last words.
Tenou rose quickly, drawing Yasha to his feet. "Do not beg, Yasha-ou," he said quietly. "It is unseemly of you."
"Ashura has shed a river of tears since the destruction of your father's city. You cannot imagine it."
"I cannot?"
Yasha shook his head mutely. Tenou nodded, looked past him and signalled the guards.
"I should leave now, Tentei. Ashura has waited for this moment for a very a long time."
"Go, then. I have had quarters prepared for you, but I would imagine you might like to wait outside for now. My servants will bring you refreshments."
Yasha bowed respectfully, walking backward toward the door as it opened and Ashura came half-running in, stopping abruptly on the threshold with a look of pure terror. Yasha turned, gave Ashura's shoulder a quick hard squeeze, brushed past and was gone. The guards were dismissed. Ashura was alone with the Emporer.
Tenou did not say a word in greeting and did not smile, but sat staring at his sibling impassively, giving Ashura the first move. At the Emporer's stony silence, whatever Ashura had been prepared to say evaporated. The long legs quivered; the stricken eyes brimmed with tears. Ashura collapsed on the floor under Tenou's gaze, prostrate and sobbing.
Tenou had never imagined this. Giving up the emotionless facade, he quickly knelt by the pale form. "Ashura. Prince Ashura."
The Prince, having caught hiccups, looked up slowly. A huge tear was poised right on the end of Ashura's nose, which was running. Tenou took the hem of his velvet robe and wiped his sibling's face. Without thinking, Ashura grasped the fine cloth and blew "his" nose in it-- then started back in horror at the deed. "Oh! Tenou-- Tentei, I am sorry, I am so sorry... for everything..."
Tenou had seen in a moment why the proud Yasha-ou had been reduced to abject begging, and was already beginning to understand the two Ashuras who together made his twin. "I know. I know you are. Don't be afraid. I forgive you. I forgive you..." Tears stinging his own eyes, he gathered the trembling bundle into his arms, hugging Ashura tightly to his breast. "I forgive you!"
"Brother-- forgives--" was all the speech Ashura could manage after that for a long time as another flood of tears burst forth. This was the Ashura that bothYasha and Kujaku knew and loved, not the one Tenou remembered. The Emporer stroked the silken black hair, whispered into the shell-shaped ear. "I know you didn't mean it. I know our mother did her best to murder you. I know the curse that was laid upon you. I know it wasn't you who destroyed my father's house. I know these things... I know... Yasha told me about your friend, Kujaku. Kujaku was my friend too, and he told me all about you, Ashura."
When Ashura finally looked up again, sniffing a little, the golden eyes held a dawning hope, a hint of a dreamscape long thought only a fantasy. Tenou smiled tenderly. "All is forgiven." Then he looked somewhere beyond Ashura's shoulder, looking, perhaps, into the future, a frown of concern creasing his handsome features. It passed quickly. He drew back a little more to see his sibling's face, looking closely into those liquid eyes-- and loving everything he saw there. After a long moment during which a difficult decision was quietly made in his heart, he said: "Will you and Yasha stay here in Zenmijou with me, Ashura?"
Ashura, who had missed Tenou's hesitation completely, smiled brilliantly-- a brilliant joy that made Tenou feel partially vindicated. "--Yes! Oh, yes, brother Tenou-- may I call you brother--?"
"Of course!" Tenou rose, lifting Ashura to unsteady feet. "Are you all right?"
Ashura rubbed both eyes with fists like a child. "Yes. Now."
"Why don't I have my servants show you and Yasha to your new dwelling. It's a nice place, by the Peacock Garden. You can rest and eat. I think you would like some food?"
"Oh, yes, brother!"
Tenou's eyes sparkled. "Kujaku told me you were a piglet!" He tugged a strand of Ashura's hair playfully. Ashura smiled uncertainly. Tenou walked his sibling to the door, an arm still around Ashura's shoulders. He could feel the sudden leaping of Ashura's heart in unexpected joy. When they came into the anteroom, Yasha stood immediately from where he had been seated on the same cushion Ashura had rested on earlier in despair. The tall Guardian of the North bowed deeply and gracefully, with the air of long practice.
"Yasha-ou!" Tenou said cheerfully. "I'm very grateful for your bringing my brother to me at last. You and Ashura have all my blessings. If you wish to wed formally, you will now have the chance to do so. There are some brahmanas here who would love to meet you. Now, go with my servants; eat, rest! It's been a long day for Ashura." He released his sibling and Ashura, after one last shy smile at Tenou, rushed into Yasha's arms.
As Yasha and Ashura were shown down the Hall of Roses by the Peacock Garden, Yasha's eye was bright. He had never hoped for Ashura to receive such genuine and unreserved welcome. Ashura was uncharacteristically silent, gliding by his side with composure mostly regained. Yasha was not certain what to say, if anything. At last he murmured: "Ashura. Your manners need work. You are to back away from the Emporer, not turn away."
Ashura winced and blushed.
"And did you bow to him?" Yasha continued, with ruthless humor.
"...No. I fainted."
"Good enough!"
* * *
"Yasha, look at this! And this! And what is this...?"
Yasha chuckled, low and deep in his chest. Ashura had almost turned back into the child he remembered from ages past-- darting here and there despite being too tired, overwhelmed with the magnificence of their palatial residence. At the moment Ashura was pointing to a prism skylight; before that, it had been the bed, large enough to sleep four comfortably on silk sheets; and before that, it had been the fine drapery overhanging the large window which looked just down on the Hall of Roses and beyond that, the Peacock Garden. "That is a sun-catcher. Come here, Ashura, eat your food and sleep, or you will become sick."
Ashura trotted back to the sumptuous red and gold floor cushions. Yasha was quietly sampling each exotic dish the servants had just brought. Not everyone was as happy to see them as Tenou; he had noted the servants' frightened glances in Ashura's direction. Yasha trusted Tenou, but he did not trust the servants, and he had told Ashura the food was still too hot to eat while in reality he tasted each dish first in case of poison. But the food-- all vegetarian, as he had carefully instructed-- was good, in fact it was indeed the food of gods, and he watched Ashura's expression turn to pure astonishment at the taste of this ambrosia. "I have never eaten such wonderful food in my life!" Ashura said after a moment.
"I have. I grew up and lived in the old Zenmijou for more than three hundred years. I served Taishaku-ten, as you know, and I ate like this every day I was there."
"Every day?? This is everyday food?"
Yasha smiled. "That is why it is called Heaven! Don't eat too much, it is very rich and can make you sick. Here. Have some of these fruits to lighten your stomach, they are called golden pears."
After eating more than was good, and finishing off with two of the pears, Ashura finally began slowing down. Yasha ushered his companion to the bed, pulling off the white tunic and hanging it up nearby. "Listen, love," he said. "If you undress behind this curtain, they cannot see you outside... but if you walk naked across the eating-space, no one can hide you!"
"What is wrong with walking naked?"
"Nothing, in the jungle. But you will have to learn the ways of the gods now, Ashura. This is not the jungle. It's much more dangerous than that. You must always keep that in mind." Yasha was undressing as he spoke. The door was well locked behind them; he lay Yamato on the bed beside him as they slipped under the silken covers. The sword was watchful and would warn them of anything amiss. Ashura was rolling languidly between the sheets, stretching and sighing, feeling their texture. "Everything about this place is so wonderful...!"
"I know. Now sleep, Ashura."
"Tenou wants us to live here."
"I will be happy to live here, if you are."
"Oh, I am! Yasha, I was so afraid..."
"There is nothing to fear anymore." Yasha felt long arms and legs twining themselves around him, and touched the fine nose with his own. The full lips only an inch from his begged for attention, but he placed only a single light kiss upon their sweetness. "Sleep, love. You are too tired. Do not think about tomorrow. Sleep."
Ashura was quiet for some time, softly breathing into Yasha's hair. Then: "Yasha. Tenou said we could be wedded."
"Yes."
"I think that would be wonderful!"
Yasha said nothing, only wrapping himself around the other's slender body, caressing and soothing it. He wondered what had caused Tenou's extravagant generosity. Obviously he had meant a quiet, private wedding. By a public blessing, a public wedding, the Emporer would be alienating the members of his own sect. Was Tenou, he wondered, the wise Emporer that he had first taken him to be? Or would he bring about insurrection and warfare in his kingdom? Ashura should not stay in Zenmijou.
Yasha sighed. He did not care whether his love for Ashura was celebrated by any rite or ritual. That was up to Ashura. But as for staying in Zenmijou, for now, they could hardly do otherwise.
Yasha loomed over Ashura like a dangerous shadow as they stepped out of the vimana. There was a small crowd of gods moving to and fro, but no faces he knew; those had passed away with time-- or the destruction Ashura had wrought more than two thousand years before.
They walked side by side along a gracefully curved causeway, led on by the pilot in golden armor. Ashura slowed suddenly, turning a little toward Yasha, and whispered fiercely, "Let go of my arm!"
Yasha said nothing, but his iron grip remained firm. Yamato hung at his side as he surveyed their surroundings carefully with his one good eye. These gods had every reason to want Ashura dead. As a troupe of armed guards fell in unobtrusively behind them, he was beginning to wish that he had never succumbed to Ashura's pleading, never brought them here.
Ashura was so nervous and edgy that Yasha could barely keep his companion's attention. "Look there!" he said, pointing at a great open hanging garden in the center of the city. A waterfall fell from it to splash into a pool a hundred feet below. White peacocks could be seen perched on golden branches, and flowers drifted downward, cast by lovers. The vision kept Ashura calm for all of ten seconds.
"Ashura," murmured Yasha, aware that those demon-ears could pick up the faintest whisper. "If you do not settle down, you will surely ruin your audience with the Emporer."
Ashura shot him a look just short of murder. The perfect pink lips formed a phrase: Will you please let go of me Now! Yasha pretended he had not understood and waited stoically for a well-aimed kick. It was amazing how strong Ashura was and how much those bare feet could hurt. He had learned that ages ago, when Ashura was still a child and throwing tantrums not unlike the one which was about to erupt right now. But Ashura maintained some restraint, the fair face only whipping abruptly away from him, chin held high. In any other situation, Yasha would have been amused. This time, however, he pulled Ashura closer still, his eye barely tinged with red. "Ashura! This is life and death! I am trying to protect you! Listen to me!"
Ashura did not acknowledge the sentence. A thousand emotions were passing across that face, the predominant one, fear.
They passed beneath the floating gardens and down a long hallway festooned with guards in red velvet. The charioteer stopped the party before a tall pair of golden doors. "This is the audience room," she announced. "You will wait here until Tentei Tenou is ready to see you." With that, she left... and Yasha's sense of the miko, Shukidevi, left with her. He glanced back over his shoulder in surprise.
Ashura was still trying to squirm out of his grasp. Yasha decided to let his ward go, and was surprised that his grip had left deep red welts in the fine white skin of Ashura's upper arm. "Ashura," he said. "I am sorry."
"I do not need your help now!" Ashura hissed. Yasha knew better than to say any more, and merely kept close, all senses more watchful than ever. After awhile they were let into a waiting chamber. But when the final door opened after an interminable period of time, it was Yasha who was first beckoned inside, alone.
Ashura's face flooded with shock, but Yasha returned the sternest of looks before vanishing. Ashura looked around wildly. The half dozen guards looked as terrified as Ashura felt. After a moment's hesitation, Ashura sank to bare knees on a nearby cushion, restraining a sob with the greatest of effort. The nightmare was coming true.
* * *
Emporer Tenou sat on his golden throne, and Yasha knelt on the steps at his feet. They were viewing Ashura through a glass hidden from Ashura's sight by a veil. Tenou's introduction to Yasha had been kind but cursory; he was focused intently on his twin. "My brother is a beautiful creature," Tenou said finally. "I think I have never seen anyone so beautiful, except long ago..." He fell painfully silent.
"Ashura is not male," Yasha said quietly.
"I know. Not female either, or so the legend goes. But the least I can do is use an honorific. "Prince Ashura." Why do you not honor my brother, Yasha-ou?"
"I do honor Ashura. I honor Ashura as my god, as my life. But not as man or woman, Tentei. Ashura is truly neither."
Ashura was sitting quietly, looking down at the floor, resigned to what might come; but Yasha could still see tension-- Black Ashura crawling beneath the pale skin-- and he knew whatever happened to him would determine the fate of Tenou.
"Well," the Emporer said at last. He was tall, with full flowing red hair and pleasant yet penetrating eyes. Yasha saw much of his father in him, but much was very different as well. And despite his handsomeness, Tenou was Ashura's absolute opposite, as the day to the night-- settled, harboring no hidden darkness. "What shall I do with you two? I cannot have you running loose like tigers in the forest. That is why I had my miko Shuki call you to me. Yet, if I keep you here, the people will be divided."
Yasha thought carefully before speaking. "You could have let us die in that snowstorm... yet you saved us. I cannot imagine that the Sons of Aditi were pleased."
"The Council does not know, and you will not mention it again. But I did not want my brother to die without having a chance to meet him."
"You saw what took place at the old Zenmijou two thousand years ago. Ashura suicided rather than kill me."
"It was a near thing."
"It was a near thing." Yasha nodded.
"How came he to life again?"
"Kujaku took pity on us. He bought a miracle with his own blood."
"Ah...! That is why he has disappeared!" Tenou sighed. "Kujaku was part Mazoku, but he was also my friend, Yasha-ou."
"He was dear to us as well. And, he was also a Hoshimi." Yasha's face was dark. "Ashura woke to the sight of Kujaku dying."
"But why should Kujaku take pity on you? Why should he do such a thing?"
Yasha hesitated, looking at Tenou strangely. "I waited two thousand years for Ashura's resurrection, Tentei... and Kujaku watched over us all that time. He must have spoken to you of your twin many times. Ashura is my sworn companion!"
"Your sworn companion?"
"How could you not know of this?" Yasha was genuinely curious. The "Story of Death and Destruction," as their legend was known in the little village near the old Zenmijou, was widespread
"I want to know what it means," Tenou said with great frankness. "Are you lovers?"
"Ashura is my only beloved," Yasha said almost helplessly, feeling a traitorous hint of color in his face. "We are wedded by Gandharva rite." Then he caught Tenou's look and knew that the Emporer had only been testing him. Yasha glanced away sheepishly, deeply embarrassed, but Tenou smiled kindly. "If you will speak of your love for my own brother in front of me, if you will admit you are wedded to him by Gandharva rite without anyone's permission, you are true indeed, Yasha-ou. But again... What shall I do with you?"
Yasha drew a deep breath. "You have two choices. Either kill us, or let us be. And it would not be intelligent to kill me, for I am Death, and where would you be then? When the time comes, I will take care of all."
"How will you take care of 'all?'"
"We made a promise to one another that we would be together always. I intend to keep it."
"But when you are old? When you really do die, and Death is no more, unless you have an heir?"
"I said, I intend to keep my promise."
"You are planning to kill Ashura with your own hands?!"
"Best at the hands of a loved one. Also, no one else is capable. Perhaps not even you, Tentei. But I can promise you this. I will not let the Dark Ashura loose upon Tenkai a second time."
Silence.
"It is the sword, Yamato," Yasha explained. "Kujaku foresaw all which would happen. He forged this sword ages past, and gave him to the Yasha clan. Yamato is the mate of Shurato, and he can control her-- and her bearer."
Tenou frowned. "What is this? If Yamato can control Shurato, why didn't you use it when Black Ashura was first loosed upon us?"
"I did not know how to control Shurato until it was too late."
"Kujaku was, as you say, Hoshimi as well as Mazoku. I will tell you the circumstances of his birth, if you do not know it already."
"I know it." Yasha bowed his head, remembering his two thousand year wait... Remembering Kujaku coming to him with food, medicine, clothing, news... That irritating manner, but the warmth... Suddenly he shut his eyes, pushing old memories aside ruthlessly. Despite everything the stargazer had done for him, he must forget Kujaku.
Tenou persisted and Yasha wondered briefly how much he knew. "Why did he not train you in the use of that sword? Why did he allow the destruction of the old Zemijou? Why did he allow all the death?"
"I don't know," Yasha said honestly. It was a question he had asked the winged one many times. "I cannot understand it. Ashura loved Kujaku and that love was returned truly. Kujaku surely had a reason and motives of his own... Perhaps it was an assignment from gods higher than us."
Tenou was silent for a long time. Then: "We must speak more of our old friend sometime, Yasha-ou. As for you... I remember you well. You were in my father's service. You were loyal until asked to do the unreasonable, and have always been respected in Tenkai. Guards! Prepare to close the curtain and allow Prince Ashura to enter!"
"Tentei," Yasha said suddenly, bowing at the Emporer's feet so his forehead rested against the cold stone steps, his hair falling down around him. "For Ashura's sake, I beg for mercy. Have mercy! Be kind to Ashura, who has known such hardship!" His voice broke on the last words.
Tenou rose quickly, drawing Yasha to his feet. "Do not beg, Yasha-ou," he said quietly. "It is unseemly of you."
"Ashura has shed a river of tears since the destruction of your father's city. You cannot imagine it."
"I cannot?"
Yasha shook his head mutely. Tenou nodded, looked past him and signalled the guards.
"I should leave now, Tentei. Ashura has waited for this moment for a very a long time."
"Go, then. I have had quarters prepared for you, but I would imagine you might like to wait outside for now. My servants will bring you refreshments."
Yasha bowed respectfully, walking backward toward the door as it opened and Ashura came half-running in, stopping abruptly on the threshold with a look of pure terror. Yasha turned, gave Ashura's shoulder a quick hard squeeze, brushed past and was gone. The guards were dismissed. Ashura was alone with the Emporer.
Tenou did not say a word in greeting and did not smile, but sat staring at his sibling impassively, giving Ashura the first move. At the Emporer's stony silence, whatever Ashura had been prepared to say evaporated. The long legs quivered; the stricken eyes brimmed with tears. Ashura collapsed on the floor under Tenou's gaze, prostrate and sobbing.
Tenou had never imagined this. Giving up the emotionless facade, he quickly knelt by the pale form. "Ashura. Prince Ashura."
The Prince, having caught hiccups, looked up slowly. A huge tear was poised right on the end of Ashura's nose, which was running. Tenou took the hem of his velvet robe and wiped his sibling's face. Without thinking, Ashura grasped the fine cloth and blew "his" nose in it-- then started back in horror at the deed. "Oh! Tenou-- Tentei, I am sorry, I am so sorry... for everything..."
Tenou had seen in a moment why the proud Yasha-ou had been reduced to abject begging, and was already beginning to understand the two Ashuras who together made his twin. "I know. I know you are. Don't be afraid. I forgive you. I forgive you..." Tears stinging his own eyes, he gathered the trembling bundle into his arms, hugging Ashura tightly to his breast. "I forgive you!"
"Brother-- forgives--" was all the speech Ashura could manage after that for a long time as another flood of tears burst forth. This was the Ashura that bothYasha and Kujaku knew and loved, not the one Tenou remembered. The Emporer stroked the silken black hair, whispered into the shell-shaped ear. "I know you didn't mean it. I know our mother did her best to murder you. I know the curse that was laid upon you. I know it wasn't you who destroyed my father's house. I know these things... I know... Yasha told me about your friend, Kujaku. Kujaku was my friend too, and he told me all about you, Ashura."
When Ashura finally looked up again, sniffing a little, the golden eyes held a dawning hope, a hint of a dreamscape long thought only a fantasy. Tenou smiled tenderly. "All is forgiven." Then he looked somewhere beyond Ashura's shoulder, looking, perhaps, into the future, a frown of concern creasing his handsome features. It passed quickly. He drew back a little more to see his sibling's face, looking closely into those liquid eyes-- and loving everything he saw there. After a long moment during which a difficult decision was quietly made in his heart, he said: "Will you and Yasha stay here in Zenmijou with me, Ashura?"
Ashura, who had missed Tenou's hesitation completely, smiled brilliantly-- a brilliant joy that made Tenou feel partially vindicated. "--Yes! Oh, yes, brother Tenou-- may I call you brother--?"
"Of course!" Tenou rose, lifting Ashura to unsteady feet. "Are you all right?"
Ashura rubbed both eyes with fists like a child. "Yes. Now."
"Why don't I have my servants show you and Yasha to your new dwelling. It's a nice place, by the Peacock Garden. You can rest and eat. I think you would like some food?"
"Oh, yes, brother!"
Tenou's eyes sparkled. "Kujaku told me you were a piglet!" He tugged a strand of Ashura's hair playfully. Ashura smiled uncertainly. Tenou walked his sibling to the door, an arm still around Ashura's shoulders. He could feel the sudden leaping of Ashura's heart in unexpected joy. When they came into the anteroom, Yasha stood immediately from where he had been seated on the same cushion Ashura had rested on earlier in despair. The tall Guardian of the North bowed deeply and gracefully, with the air of long practice.
"Yasha-ou!" Tenou said cheerfully. "I'm very grateful for your bringing my brother to me at last. You and Ashura have all my blessings. If you wish to wed formally, you will now have the chance to do so. There are some brahmanas here who would love to meet you. Now, go with my servants; eat, rest! It's been a long day for Ashura." He released his sibling and Ashura, after one last shy smile at Tenou, rushed into Yasha's arms.
As Yasha and Ashura were shown down the Hall of Roses by the Peacock Garden, Yasha's eye was bright. He had never hoped for Ashura to receive such genuine and unreserved welcome. Ashura was uncharacteristically silent, gliding by his side with composure mostly regained. Yasha was not certain what to say, if anything. At last he murmured: "Ashura. Your manners need work. You are to back away from the Emporer, not turn away."
Ashura winced and blushed.
"And did you bow to him?" Yasha continued, with ruthless humor.
"...No. I fainted."
"Good enough!"
* * *
"Yasha, look at this! And this! And what is this...?"
Yasha chuckled, low and deep in his chest. Ashura had almost turned back into the child he remembered from ages past-- darting here and there despite being too tired, overwhelmed with the magnificence of their palatial residence. At the moment Ashura was pointing to a prism skylight; before that, it had been the bed, large enough to sleep four comfortably on silk sheets; and before that, it had been the fine drapery overhanging the large window which looked just down on the Hall of Roses and beyond that, the Peacock Garden. "That is a sun-catcher. Come here, Ashura, eat your food and sleep, or you will become sick."
Ashura trotted back to the sumptuous red and gold floor cushions. Yasha was quietly sampling each exotic dish the servants had just brought. Not everyone was as happy to see them as Tenou; he had noted the servants' frightened glances in Ashura's direction. Yasha trusted Tenou, but he did not trust the servants, and he had told Ashura the food was still too hot to eat while in reality he tasted each dish first in case of poison. But the food-- all vegetarian, as he had carefully instructed-- was good, in fact it was indeed the food of gods, and he watched Ashura's expression turn to pure astonishment at the taste of this ambrosia. "I have never eaten such wonderful food in my life!" Ashura said after a moment.
"I have. I grew up and lived in the old Zenmijou for more than three hundred years. I served Taishaku-ten, as you know, and I ate like this every day I was there."
"Every day?? This is everyday food?"
Yasha smiled. "That is why it is called Heaven! Don't eat too much, it is very rich and can make you sick. Here. Have some of these fruits to lighten your stomach, they are called golden pears."
After eating more than was good, and finishing off with two of the pears, Ashura finally began slowing down. Yasha ushered his companion to the bed, pulling off the white tunic and hanging it up nearby. "Listen, love," he said. "If you undress behind this curtain, they cannot see you outside... but if you walk naked across the eating-space, no one can hide you!"
"What is wrong with walking naked?"
"Nothing, in the jungle. But you will have to learn the ways of the gods now, Ashura. This is not the jungle. It's much more dangerous than that. You must always keep that in mind." Yasha was undressing as he spoke. The door was well locked behind them; he lay Yamato on the bed beside him as they slipped under the silken covers. The sword was watchful and would warn them of anything amiss. Ashura was rolling languidly between the sheets, stretching and sighing, feeling their texture. "Everything about this place is so wonderful...!"
"I know. Now sleep, Ashura."
"Tenou wants us to live here."
"I will be happy to live here, if you are."
"Oh, I am! Yasha, I was so afraid..."
"There is nothing to fear anymore." Yasha felt long arms and legs twining themselves around him, and touched the fine nose with his own. The full lips only an inch from his begged for attention, but he placed only a single light kiss upon their sweetness. "Sleep, love. You are too tired. Do not think about tomorrow. Sleep."
Ashura was quiet for some time, softly breathing into Yasha's hair. Then: "Yasha. Tenou said we could be wedded."
"Yes."
"I think that would be wonderful!"
Yasha said nothing, only wrapping himself around the other's slender body, caressing and soothing it. He wondered what had caused Tenou's extravagant generosity. Obviously he had meant a quiet, private wedding. By a public blessing, a public wedding, the Emporer would be alienating the members of his own sect. Was Tenou, he wondered, the wise Emporer that he had first taken him to be? Or would he bring about insurrection and warfare in his kingdom? Ashura should not stay in Zenmijou.
Yasha sighed. He did not care whether his love for Ashura was celebrated by any rite or ritual. That was up to Ashura. But as for staying in Zenmijou, for now, they could hardly do otherwise.