Chapter 5: Palace Life Without Love
Sakaki was dressed for the day and measured for other clothing to be made. He walked around the palace trying find what he could remember. He heard laughter coming from the courtesans' quarters and he walked over there.
" Excuse me," he said
All the courtesans turned around and came to their knees as they bowed to him.
" Please, stand," he said
They came to their knees and looked up at Sakaki.
" Young majesty, what do you wish for us to do?" one spoke
" I just heard you laughing and I wished to see who it was," Sakaki said
" We are sorry your highness for being loud," they said
" You don't need to apologize," Sakaki said
He was not adapting to the palace life and nor would he be able.
" Do you know where Miyako is?" he asked
" Lady Miyako is bathing right now do you wish to summon her highness?" a courtesans asked
" No, it's alright I will wait until she is done," Sakaki said
Sakaki gave a bow and walked down the hall, but the courtesans were curious on why he would summon Miyako out of the 30 women before him. Sakaki walked through the courtyard and guards bowed to him. He came to the open air bath and stopped when he heard singing. He walked quietly and saw Miyako standing under the flowing water, he could not help but to feel stirring feelings for the young courtesan. It was after all her who found him. She was also the empress's finest handmaiden, but never the less he was in love with Karasuma. He watched Miyako dry off and slipped on a robe, she did not tie it though, so it was open. She braided her hair and pulled it up, then tied her robe. She slipped her sandals on and gathered her things, then went off, but as she walked she dropped a sash. Sakaki walked over and picked it up and went after her.
" Miyako," he called
She turned and bowed to Sakaki and looked up at him.
" You dropped this," he said
" Thank you Highness," she said
Miyako wrapped the sash around her neck and bowed.
" I was wondering, if you would like to have lunch with me on the veranda?" he asked
" I would like to Highness, but I am going with my father to my hometown, perhaps one of the other girls will accompany you," she said
" Captain Izo, that's right I forgot you are his daughter," Sakaki said
" Highness, is there something the matter?" she asked
" No, not at all. When will you be returning?" he asked
Miyako looked at him and said, " Not until later tonight."
" Then I shall wait and eat then with you, I will not eat until you return," he said
" Yes, Highness," she said
She walked off and slightly blushed after turning away. Sakaki walked through the court yard and saw the Sakura tree. He walked to it and gently touched the bark of it.
" Taiyou," Empress Rinako called
Sakaki turned and looked at Rinako and she walked over to him.
" Why is it that you love this tree so?" she asked
" I don't know," Sakaki answered
" I can tell you, it is because of Miyako, she has stolen your heart, you and she use play under this tree," Rinako said
Sakaki looked at Rinako and questioned, " Why didn't you marry again?"
" I did not marry because there was no man I desired more than your father Taiyou. And I did not worry so, because I was worried about finding my precious young prince," Rinako stated
Sakaki traced the tree and Rinako looked at her son. She grabbed his hand and Sakaki jumped slightly.
" Did they treat you well my little prince?" she asked
" Very well," he said, " I forgot what life was like here."
" Are you happy my son?" she questioned
Sakaki turned and looked at Rinako and lowered his head.
" I am, but I'm not," he said, " I lived there so long I became a custom to life in that century. But I was living a lie on who I was."
Rinako wrapped her arms around Sakaki and kissed his cheek.
" You no longer have to live that lie," she said
He nodded and Rinako called the servants to bring lunch out in the court yard. A table and pillows were laid out and they sat down. They were brought a large amount of food and Sakaki ate some.
Sakaki's life as the son of an Empress, went on for weeks and weeks became months. His feelings towards Karasuma never died away in fact the lack of her existence in that time made him ill. He only wondered away from reality and often skipped meals because of his aching heart.
" Taiyou-sama, the lady Nari is here to see you," Miyako said
Sakaki looked at Miyako and turned away and Miyako sighed
" Please, Highness speak to your servants, they worry so," Miyako said
" I belong here," Sakaki said, " I wish to return to the other time."
" I'm afraid you can no longer leave this time," Miyako stated, " You are an emperor my lord, one born to rule. Your subjects are worried for your health."
Sakaki sat up in bed and looked at Miyako.
" Then I'll live and die as quickly so that I can leave this world," Sakaki said, " I will see Lady Nari, but she is not who I wish to see."
" Aye my lord," Miyako said
She bowed and walked out the grand room and looked at a fair young woman. She walked in and bowed to Sakaki.
" Good day Highness," she said, " I understand that you are ill."
Nari knelt down and looked at him, she examined him as she would any of her other patients. Finding nothing wrong she left his side and walked out, Empress Rinako looked at Nari.
" Is my son well?" she asked
" Aye, my lady he is well, strong as an ox that plows a field, but he speaks so softly of a dream," Nari said, " I do believe that his heart is weak and he has grown ill from lack of love."
" A wife perhaps will do him well, the people crave to see a new heir or heiress," Empress Rinako said
Miyako looked at them and nodded and she slipped away back into Sakaki's room. She looked at Sakaki and bowed.
" I will find her highness," Miyako said
She took another passage and collected some fine garments from her collection. She then went to the dungeon, there drew something on the wall
" Running away lady Miyako? Aye you have a bit of a liking to that young emperor, such a fraud he is," a prisoner said
" You speak ill of our emperor…you are a bold one," she said
" Aye, that I am and tomorrow I be going to the chopping block," he said, " Death to the emperor….may his light fade soon."
She chanted something and a bright light filled the room, she vanished and reappeared in the busy streets of Tokyo. She looked around and nodded.
" This is where I found he," she said, " And I shall find she."
She sigh and clutched the garments to her and walked along the streets. She came to the dark building that she had spoke to Sakaki at. There her luck had struck her well, Karasuma walked out the building and she ran across.
" Miho," she called
Karasuma turned around and looked at her.
" You," Karasuma said
" Aye, his highness has fallen ill," she said, " I have come to ask you to take him in your arms and heal his pain."
" Sakaki, where is he?" she asked
" In the time he was born in, but ill as the dull night," Miyako said
Karasuma looked at her and Miyako opened the silk bag to reveal the yards of beautiful clothing.
" I ask you please to heal our emperor," she said, " you are who makes him happy, I thought perhaps if he saw you again he would be well."
Karasuma nodded and Miyako smiled and Karasuma called in sick. Miyako dressed Karasuma in the fine fabrics and did her make-up.
" Come with me we have little time," she said