Part 13
"So you mean to say that same fate awaits Lady Nurikenji once she runs off with Tamakira here? Now I see the resemblance, well, Tamakira, be prepared to have your head cut off," Taskuragi suddenly said without taking any consideration whatsoever of the seriousness of the matter.
"Nonsense, fool. I've no such desire," answered Tamakira indignantly.
"But the Lady has, there's no point denying." Said Chichitoru suddenly.
"I'm not too short sighted if you have the notion that I would just take anything from the dear emperor," Tamakira said angrier than before.
"Yeah, alright, I get it. You would rather remain penniless and useless than to get so great a fortune by marrying Nurikenji and ruling Shoyokkaido, well, that's reasonable enough, isn't it?" said Taskuragi sarcastically.
"But I'm not-"
"You will find that very hard to defend, the Lady Nurikenji is in remarkable likeness with her mother, only the blind could not be enamoured by her." Finished Chichitoru who himself was somewhat troubled as Tamakira was.
"Why don't we just have our breakfast and let it rest for awhile? I've had enough of this already and I'm hungry if you should know," said Tamakira who was giving a warning look at the two young men.
As they set themselves in the dining area millions of thoughts came swimming inside Tamakira's head. I can't be with Nurikenji, everybody knows that. I don't have anything to offer to her and God, if I hadn't got this looks who would go running after me? And yet, what a fool Nurikenji is to put aside Hotosashi who's probably the most wonderful man in this world. No, I'm not giving in to any temptation, how will I be able to defend Miyakaede if I had my head cut off? This is preposterous, I wish I hadn't been promoted to that steward position and remained as a kitchen boy. But Miyakaede would scorn me even more bitterly than she already does,. Well, this is life.
After they had their breakfast, Taskuragi asked Tamakira if he could give him a trip in the palace. Chichitoru decided to stay in the library.
"That's one weird guy, if you ask me what I think about him…he's probably gay, don't you think so, Tamakira?" Taskuragi said as they took a walk in the garden.
"He's a noble man, he's not supposed to act the way you think real men do." Tamakira answered.
"Too noble, neh? It has nothing to do with that, he should've saved the empress when I-" before the red head could finish, a guard came running to Tamakira,
"My lord, two young men are outside the gates, they desire to speak with the emperor-"
"Why not call Hotosashi? We're busy talking here so if you don't mind…" Taskuragi said rudely but Tamakira spoke,
"The emperor is resting right now, he didn't sleep last night. Lead me to these men and I shall speak to them."
"Wait I still wanna learn more about this place," Taskuragi called after him for Tamakira headed for the gates.
Two young men were surrounded by the guards. The other one was shorter and looked younger. He had smooth hair that falls up to his ears and his face was very childish and pleasing. The other one was taller than average. His hair was black and very short whereas his face displayed fine features of a well grown man whose eyes were very dark and omniscient and wise.
"What brings you here, strangers, and why do you demand the emperor's presence?" Tamakira asked with feigned dignity which made Taskuragi snigger behind his back.
"We do not demand, young man, but rather request his majesty's presence if his time allows though it is advisable if he meets with us as soon as possible." answered the taller man in a stern manner.
"That is not permitted at the moment. The emperor is resting due to some displeasing circumstances that took place here the day before. You could come back some other day and we shall inform the emperor about your wish," said Tamakira seeming to address Taskuragi.
"We have travelled mountains to reach this empire and we have but our meagre clothing with us, nor have we another cent to spend," said the shorter lad amiably but sadly.
Tamakira was hesitating for there was pity in his heart. He didn't understand why this should soften him but it did feel sure that these two were up to some important matters.
"Would you care to give me your names, gentlemen?" he then asked.
"I am Chirikoshino, I came from Ryosaka Empire, I once served the lord Taokayasu-" before the younger stranger could finish Tamakira spoke,
"Ryosaka? I was born there, my family moved here because life was too harsh for us…how was the lord?"
It was the dark-eyed stranger who answered, "The Lord has passed away…the people revolted, what's behind this uprising, only the Emperor shall know firsthand. I am Mitsugami by the way, Lord Taoka's distant nephew, I served as adviser to the late lord."
Tamakira didn't know exactly what to do, there was no better option,
"Taskuragi, wake the emperor, quickly." Tamakira ordered.
"Alright then." To everyone's surprise, Taskuragi said obediently. "This will be the last time I take orders from you, ex-kitchen boy."
Taskuragi left to get the emperor. He headed straight for the lord's room but before he could do so the door swung open and Hotosashi stood before it.
"Er, some people are here to see you, they say it's kinda urgent and stuff," stammered Taskuragi.
"Did they give their names, soldier?"
"Yeah, but I forgot to remember," said Taskuragi. Hotosashi gave him a questioning look so Taskuragi went on, "why don't you just go down and see for yourself, It's a good idea you know,"
Without a word Hotosashi descended the flight of stairs and went to the gates where Tamakira seemed to be enjoying himself exchanging words with the two.
"What's your business, gentlemen?" the emperor said standing behind his steward.
"Oh, good morning, your highness. Are you done with your breakfast?" asked Tamakira bowing low.
"Never mind that, lord. But who are these people?"
"Allow us to introduce ourselves, your majesty," said the two.
"So you mean to say that same fate awaits Lady Nurikenji once she runs off with Tamakira here? Now I see the resemblance, well, Tamakira, be prepared to have your head cut off," Taskuragi suddenly said without taking any consideration whatsoever of the seriousness of the matter.
"Nonsense, fool. I've no such desire," answered Tamakira indignantly.
"But the Lady has, there's no point denying." Said Chichitoru suddenly.
"I'm not too short sighted if you have the notion that I would just take anything from the dear emperor," Tamakira said angrier than before.
"Yeah, alright, I get it. You would rather remain penniless and useless than to get so great a fortune by marrying Nurikenji and ruling Shoyokkaido, well, that's reasonable enough, isn't it?" said Taskuragi sarcastically.
"But I'm not-"
"You will find that very hard to defend, the Lady Nurikenji is in remarkable likeness with her mother, only the blind could not be enamoured by her." Finished Chichitoru who himself was somewhat troubled as Tamakira was.
"Why don't we just have our breakfast and let it rest for awhile? I've had enough of this already and I'm hungry if you should know," said Tamakira who was giving a warning look at the two young men.
As they set themselves in the dining area millions of thoughts came swimming inside Tamakira's head. I can't be with Nurikenji, everybody knows that. I don't have anything to offer to her and God, if I hadn't got this looks who would go running after me? And yet, what a fool Nurikenji is to put aside Hotosashi who's probably the most wonderful man in this world. No, I'm not giving in to any temptation, how will I be able to defend Miyakaede if I had my head cut off? This is preposterous, I wish I hadn't been promoted to that steward position and remained as a kitchen boy. But Miyakaede would scorn me even more bitterly than she already does,. Well, this is life.
After they had their breakfast, Taskuragi asked Tamakira if he could give him a trip in the palace. Chichitoru decided to stay in the library.
"That's one weird guy, if you ask me what I think about him…he's probably gay, don't you think so, Tamakira?" Taskuragi said as they took a walk in the garden.
"He's a noble man, he's not supposed to act the way you think real men do." Tamakira answered.
"Too noble, neh? It has nothing to do with that, he should've saved the empress when I-" before the red head could finish, a guard came running to Tamakira,
"My lord, two young men are outside the gates, they desire to speak with the emperor-"
"Why not call Hotosashi? We're busy talking here so if you don't mind…" Taskuragi said rudely but Tamakira spoke,
"The emperor is resting right now, he didn't sleep last night. Lead me to these men and I shall speak to them."
"Wait I still wanna learn more about this place," Taskuragi called after him for Tamakira headed for the gates.
Two young men were surrounded by the guards. The other one was shorter and looked younger. He had smooth hair that falls up to his ears and his face was very childish and pleasing. The other one was taller than average. His hair was black and very short whereas his face displayed fine features of a well grown man whose eyes were very dark and omniscient and wise.
"What brings you here, strangers, and why do you demand the emperor's presence?" Tamakira asked with feigned dignity which made Taskuragi snigger behind his back.
"We do not demand, young man, but rather request his majesty's presence if his time allows though it is advisable if he meets with us as soon as possible." answered the taller man in a stern manner.
"That is not permitted at the moment. The emperor is resting due to some displeasing circumstances that took place here the day before. You could come back some other day and we shall inform the emperor about your wish," said Tamakira seeming to address Taskuragi.
"We have travelled mountains to reach this empire and we have but our meagre clothing with us, nor have we another cent to spend," said the shorter lad amiably but sadly.
Tamakira was hesitating for there was pity in his heart. He didn't understand why this should soften him but it did feel sure that these two were up to some important matters.
"Would you care to give me your names, gentlemen?" he then asked.
"I am Chirikoshino, I came from Ryosaka Empire, I once served the lord Taokayasu-" before the younger stranger could finish Tamakira spoke,
"Ryosaka? I was born there, my family moved here because life was too harsh for us…how was the lord?"
It was the dark-eyed stranger who answered, "The Lord has passed away…the people revolted, what's behind this uprising, only the Emperor shall know firsthand. I am Mitsugami by the way, Lord Taoka's distant nephew, I served as adviser to the late lord."
Tamakira didn't know exactly what to do, there was no better option,
"Taskuragi, wake the emperor, quickly." Tamakira ordered.
"Alright then." To everyone's surprise, Taskuragi said obediently. "This will be the last time I take orders from you, ex-kitchen boy."
Taskuragi left to get the emperor. He headed straight for the lord's room but before he could do so the door swung open and Hotosashi stood before it.
"Er, some people are here to see you, they say it's kinda urgent and stuff," stammered Taskuragi.
"Did they give their names, soldier?"
"Yeah, but I forgot to remember," said Taskuragi. Hotosashi gave him a questioning look so Taskuragi went on, "why don't you just go down and see for yourself, It's a good idea you know,"
Without a word Hotosashi descended the flight of stairs and went to the gates where Tamakira seemed to be enjoying himself exchanging words with the two.
"What's your business, gentlemen?" the emperor said standing behind his steward.
"Oh, good morning, your highness. Are you done with your breakfast?" asked Tamakira bowing low.
"Never mind that, lord. But who are these people?"
"Allow us to introduce ourselves, your majesty," said the two.