Title:
Undesired Affections
Genre and Ratings: Drama/Romance-
Rated PG
Pairing: Youko & Keiki (main), Youko & Syouryuu,
Youko & Rakushun
Written by: Nickriz
Disclaimers: Juuni
Kokuki is authored by Ono Fuyumi.
Summary: A romantic diversion
takes place in Kimpa Palace between Youko and Keiki, while a turn of
events brings in a quadrangular love web. How can Youko retain the
delicate friendships and still pursue love?
Chapter 3
End of Twilight, Beginning of Dawn
Part
1
Winter's Cleansing Rain
"War waged on kingless lands,
Grief abounds beyond the shores,
Winds of fate by Heaven's will fulfill,
All under heaven swept along like fools.
Of beasts and men it chances,
Long waiting its rightful claim,
Till peace as rivers flood its banks,
The land shall soon enter her rest."
Dust swallows the earth in a barren village, leaving no trace of civilization. The days pass as unnoticed phenomenon while the earth groans for release. Rumors of condors and monsters adrift from the shores to the ears of inhabitants, and yet nothing avails. Not until heavens will had been executed, all under heaven remains in darkness.
In the deep forest a small hut looms from the distance. The sound of rushing waters nearby and tranquil silence provides a sense of otherworldliness from the barrenness of the surrounding lands. As the winds howls its sweet melody, the mists of the night soon forms tiny sparkling diamonds on its leafy hosts. In a little while more, the source of light that brings each day anew will arise.
Silently, the wooden door of the small hut slowly opens. As if afraid to alert someone, a woman quietly emerged. With feather light steps, she begins her day with the work ahead. Holding a small tub at her side, she hinges the utensil on her hips as she makes her way to the small stream nearby.
Slowly coming to a halt, she looks toward the skies. Gazing with a forlorn longing for a beloved son, she wondered if he had reached En in safety. Remembering the beautiful young woman that traveled with him whose hair were life fiery rubies, a smile graces her countenance as she closed her eyes in inward peace. Opening her eyes again, she resumes her journey to the river.
Upon reaching, she winds up the sleeves of her plain looking robe. Small-roughened hands revealed the course work that has been burdened on her throughout her life. As she gently knelt by the riverbank, her work for the day began with a chore in cleaning the day's garments.
High above the trees, the first ray of dawn seeped into the canvas of the night sky. Like a live paintbrush's color, it taints the night canvas with its gleaming hues of soft red and gold. The color of royalty. As if locked in a race, the darkness retreats as the light graciously extends her wings of life-giving brilliance. Back on earth below, the morning dew clothes the land in mists that likens to the Fairy Mountains in the Yellow Sea where saints and sages were said to dwell.
By the window sat a man draped in a lose robe, as he looks out from the view it offers and contemplates in his mind a certain someone whose been plaguing him for days. Two days ago, he sat by the lake, watching the clam waters and enjoying the scenic mountains in the backdrop of the enormous crystal clear waters. Not since many decades has one such as this plagued him, which would not give him piece of mind. Still looking at the beautiful courtyard below, the soft rhythm of the drizzling rain echoes through the entire elaborately designed courtesan house, in which he stayed.
Unmindful of the light splatters of raindrops that tainted his cheeks and garments, the figure finally rested his gaze and closed them. Bringing his head back from the window, he gave a hearty sigh and slowly opened his warm hazel eyes and rose from his place. Walking towards the large wooden furnished bed, he turned around and lay down on its soft covers, crossing his arm behind his head and fixed his gaze at the ceiling of his bed. Nonchalantly bringing one knee up, he crossed it over the other, showing off a contemplative and yet lazy pose.
Feeling the music of the rain outside lulling him to a nap, he closed his eyes once again and tried to picture the feeling of tranquil serenity when he had been at the lake thinking about her. An image of her formed in his mind's eyes, and he saw her smiling at him with her warm genuine smile. Her hair carefully ornamented in precious jewels and gold hairpins and jade. Her scent of sweet plum blossoms and jasmine flowed back to him like a memory just visited yesterday. How he longed to loosen the glossy lock of hair that resembles fire, and to run his fingers through them. He pictured her beautiful emerald eyes glazed in affection towards him, as he gazes into them only to find himself reflected in her eyes.
Drifting slowly into the web of unconsciousness, his breathing slowed and the image of her faded from view. Succumbing to the comfort and warmth of the bed, he drifted into a light sleep.
As luck would have it, as believe by many, the peace of the afternoon would soon to be disrupted. A knock on the wooden door signaled the arrival of another, and immediately the doors opened without a given order of approval. In came the faithful partner, walking casually over to the bed stand.
Rokuta peered from his side and wondered if Shouryuu will ever change his ways or lifestyle. Knowing his master, it would be impossible unless there was a catalyst for change. Turning to face the sleeping figure, he bent towards the bed and raised his hand in an attempt to nudge him awake. Before he managed to surprise his lazing friend, Shouryuu surprised him instead.
"You would fare terribly as an assassin. If I were an enemy, you would have been taken down easily," Shouryuu voiced arrogantly as he slowly opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at his annoyed Kirin. Surprised at being caught, Rokuta moved from him and went to sit on a stone marble chair found in the middle of the bedchamber. Crossing his arms over his chest, he rebutted.
"I've no interest in such childish arrogance of yours. Besides, I'd never agree to an assassination task. You know how much I hate the stench of blood!"
Rolling over on his side to face the annoyed Kirin, Shouryuu rested his left arm on the pillows and propped his head on his hand. Pulling up his right leg from the cross-legged position, he bent his knees and rested his feet on the bed at the back of his other calf. After a moment's pause, a small smile appeared on his handsome face as he observed the young boy.
"Which is why I mentioned, 'you would', not 'you are'," Shouryuu chuckled his adamant defense.
Without turning to face the older man, Rokuta gave him a side-glare and closed his eyes.
"You know, that ego of yours could use some damage. But it's not the reason why I'm here."
"Oh…Hmm, so what important matters bring my faithful servant to disturb me in my blissful sleep?" Shouryuu questioned coyly.
"Kei-Ou has asked for an audience with you by word of her messenger. She wishes to consult you on certain matters in Kei," Rokuta answered in a "as a matter-of-fact" tone.
Smiling to himself at first, Shouryuu soon chuckled in amazement. It seems to him that the heavens would smile on him this day to have his desire fulfilled. It would please him to see just what the outcome of this visit from Youko would bring.
Unsure of what has gotten into Shouryuu's head, Rokuta looks at him and shakes his head. Looking back at Shouryuu with a disgusted gaze, he observed and then continued.
"That face of yours right now, ..yeah that face.." He paused with a frown.
"My face? What about it right now?" Shouryuu asked in a quizzical look, with brows raised.
"That piece of face of yours looks just like an idiot right now!" Rokuta chided annoyingly.
He sighed in defeat at the idiocrisy of his master at times, and wonder how in the world did he managed to choose him as king over his precious lands. "Shouryuu is probably up to some mischief this time," Rokuta reasoned to himself.
Shouryuu on the other hand had brushed off the comment and then replied.
"Unfortunately for you, you've been serving a king with an "idotic" face for a long time it seems. I think our fate has been predestined... It seems to be…… a disadvantage for you at your end of the bargain." Shouryuu laughed.
Shaking his head again at the unending well of rebuts Shouryuu can churn out at anything he says, Rokuta turns to look into his master's eyes in seriousness.
"So what's your reply?"
"Request accepted. Tell her that her presence is welcomed and that she is requested to join me at the lake tomorrow morning." Shouryuu once again turned his gaze out to the windows. It seems that the rain has ceased and small rays of light have burned through the dark clouds that hung over the city in the late afternoon. Smiling contentedly to himself again, he closed his eyes, and lay back down in bed to continue his interrupted nap.
Rokuta followed Shouryuu's gaze has he looked out of the windows of the bedchamber to see the emerging says of light. The shower had been a refreshing relief compared to several days of warmer winter winds. He welcomed the rain even thought it wasn't a heavy one.
Seeing Shouryuu's attempt to go back to his nap, he spoke.
"I will relay the reply and send the messenger on his way." He rose to walk towards the door as he prepared his commoner's shawl to wrap around his head. As he neared the door, he stopped as he finished his attire's camouflage. Once more he spoke.
"You should give that brain of yours some exercise and get some of the paper work done." With that, Rokuta opened the wooden door and stepped through, and closed the door behind him.
Out in the courtesan house's courtyard, the smell of fresh winter rains perfumed the garden. Soft rays of sunlight lit the garden as the clouds parted and revealed the weary sun as it ends its journey. A young boy made his way through the garden and exited the main entrance gate.
As he made his way through the bustling streets, smelling the fragrance of the rainfall, he determined not to let his lazy superior spoil his mood. Taking a casual pace, he made the most of his walk back to the palace. The winter rains were light but chilly, so he gently rubbed his arms to ward off the cold.
Tiny drops of rainwater dripped from the roofs of merchant shop houses and teahouses. The town was covered in mirror reflections of their beautifully build shops and inns from the small puddles of water on the stone pavements. Many townsfolk continued with their work or business as the rain came to a stop and they welcomed the cooling freshness in the cold air.
Back at the courtesan house, in the bedchamber, the cool winds ruffle the drawn bed curtain that hides a silhouette within its interiors. The silk curtains drift ever so lightly as its master lies asleep with a peaceful smile on his face.
Out in the courtyard, the evening sun slowly set. The light slowly gave way to the enveloping darkness that seems to cradle the world in its embrace. The songbirds of the courtyard chirped their praises to the heavens in gratitude for the rain. Soon evening came and the sun laid to rest, for her work has been accomplished for yet another day.
Author's Notes:
This story was intented to be semi-serious and romantic. Although it seems like Youko is weak here, the fact that she is the empress should say other wise. Considering that she is still a new queen and only at 17 years of age, there are alot of sides of her that the anime has not shown completely in full. That's because the intended 65 edpisodes had been cut down to only 45. There is alot of differences in the story line compared to the original novels.
I've seen the whole 45 episodes and I watched it in chinese dialogue.Its interesting because the speech pattern tends to be more poetic in a certain sense.Hence the poems at the begining of the story chapters.Moreover,the setting of the story is in a seemingly "Chinese" enviroment coupled with Japanese influences.Therefore, the story is written with more chinese/japanese or eastern thinking and writing style in mind.I don't like the ideas of westernizing the story, since it has very strong cultural settings in the original setting.
In the east, people do not deem someone as powerful just by the fact that they have brute strength. In fact, as most of you woulb have noticed by now, a person of strength is one that consists of wisdom,knowledge,kindness,power and character.
To western mentalities, kicking ass is seen as "proof" of a person's strength, but in the east, it is deemed as stupidity because it shows inconsideration and foolishness of one's council.In the episode where Youko and Rakushun tries to enter a city gate but was suddenly attacked by condors, she had thought that by showing her ability to kill or slay those monsters was something to be proud of. But we all know her regret later when she realised her foolishness for being naive.
The true strength of Youko lies in her growth and understanding of her role and duties as she spent her time with Enho.With knowledge and equipped with wisdom from Enho, she learnt and grew out of her mistakes and naiveness. The quality of an emperess that Keiki saw was the quality of her character which needed polishing. It was brought out by the knowledge, circumstances she grew in experience from. Also, I must clarify that Youko cannot fight. She is not a fighter from the start. The only reason she can fight is because of the hinman that gives her the ability to do so.On her own, her fighting skills are not up to standard as yet.
As for Keiki, I don't see him at the weak one in the story. It is true that in the anime he seems to be constantly worried, or subdued by Youko. But he is a strong and stubborn character,but also a person with fears and hopes. So I don't intend to make him a weakling for this story, but rather a more diversified of his character is explored.
Currently I'm reading the novel in chinese.But I don't have time for it everyday.
Sarah,Yume,Jackie and Verna-S:
Thanks for the reviews and the comments. I greatly apreciate it. Its interesting to hear the reviews abt the story chapters so far. Thank you Verna for the detailed review. I believe in giving constructive reviews. It makes greater grounder for the next chapter/s.
Verna - I hope that the short note from me would explain a little bit about why I had Youko seem to be a little bit weak. I think it also shows the human side of her, and also the female side of her that is as "a weaker sex" but not necessarily be so all the time. Considering we only know that she was previously only attracted to her classmate,we see no other romantically associated persons with her.Based on such assumptions, I have presumed that she has yet to actually tastethe experience of her "first love". Moreover, unless she is controlled by her hinman in an attack of defence, all other times she is very much vulnerable if left to herself. I hope that this helps with your perception of her in this story.
Once again, thanks for the reviews. The new chapter part 1 is up, hope that this will please all of u.
