Disclaimer: I do not own Magi - The Labyrinth of Magic
Blessed Child of Mine
Hakutoku Ren
.
Keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer.
That is a mantra that Hakutoku repeats to himself everyday as he stares into the eyes of his brother.
Perhaps, the young warrior thinks, Koutoku is necessary for the good of creating Kou.
His brother gathers those who follow his ideals of power, he symbolizes brute strength. He represents the people who want to rule over others, to be able to authorize and control the world from their very fingertips. He is part of the faction of people who prey on others, to survive they must stand on top of a mountain of corpses. To feel in control, there is no distribution in power; there is simply a hierarchy of rule. They are the people who fund the weapons and fuel the riot for war.
Whereas Hakutoku himself is an idealist, he wishes to unify the world for there to be peace and harmony. There must be something more to this life than simple humanistic pleasures, there is a purpose that humans need to fulfill. Why else can people who are so different, so segregated from each other by mountains and the sea be able to talk to each other in a common tongue. Why is it that only the Torran people are different?
However it is unfortunate for Koutoku, who values strength above all else to be the weaker of the two brothers. Hakutoku has more experience in combat, he does well among his troops, and he is far more intelligent and calculating than his younger sibling. At times the soldiers think it is laughable to compare the two, only to be silenced the next day when the fiery red haired man catches wind about what is said.
Concealed jealousy is something that is often set on Koutoku's face. Smiles hide lies, congratulations mask ill wishes, behind every agreement there sits a trap. The older brother assumes that his brother thinks he's being clever and cunning; to think that his downfall would not be through a battle but due to a woman. Someone who he will supposedly be unguarded around, someone who will become his weakness.
However he can't help but agree, Gyokuen is a woman of allure with a bewitching beauty. The young woman has straight black hair accompanying a silver tongue. Pale skin and small wrists, dainty as if she has never seen labor or sunlight.
But Hakutoku is not oblivious. He notices the way her eyes change during battle. How she doesn't startle ever during an ambush, how brown orbs narrow in contempt when soldiers attempt to protect her. When his red haired brother makes an ill advised battle tactic, she tilts her head to the side and stares through half-lidded eyes as if to question his sanity.
She masks her intelligence with girlish laughter and serenity.
She is like his brother, hiding behind lies upon lies.
When she leans her head against his shoulder, the general closes his eyes.
There is no true evil, merely opposing sides of the same coin. People fight for what they believe in, that is what he is doing for his people. For him to succeed he will take in the ill intentions of others for the greater happiness and safety of his subjects.
Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.
He marries the woman he knows will one day become his downfall.
Together with his soldiers they are able to gather men across the large plains of Tenka. To conquer and spread hegemony among their people.
To establish the empire of Kou.
.
He will never forget that day, when she comes to him with her hands resting on her abdomen.
She is pregnant with his child.
The soon to be empress is swept away by her group of attendees; men and women from a variety of cities across the globe. Falan, a Parthavian woman, who is clothed completely in white and Ithnan, of mysterious origins, who's face is always embellished with a checkered mask stand by her side. Gyokuen is placed far from the battle grounds, in a place she can no longer hear the cries of war.
When the boy is born in the safe confines of Rakushou, the area they tend to settle in, they name him Hakuyuu. He is the white hero that will attest to their efforts at softly combs his hand through short ocean blue tufts of hair as his son sleeps, marveling at his offspring.
As he watches Gyokuen cradle their child between her arms, humming a soft tune he comes to a realization.
He had not intended for Gyokuen and himself to start a family; just as he did not intend to be emperor. He thinks perhaps he can come to love her and their children, even if he will never trust her.
II.
The twins separation had been a way to subdue his wife. It was no secret after their birth Gyokuen held a complete adoration and unadulterated love for their daughter. Perhaps she had always wanted a little girl, but it became unsettling when she would largely ignore everyone else in favor for the bundle in her arms.
For the first two years, the king found the way she cradled their daughter secretly at night tolerable. However due to the startling way the small empress altered her cloying features to stringent looks, from soft coos to obsessive grasps, he knew he had to intervene.
It had pained him, the way his daughter did nothing but cry in his arms as he tried to soothe her as he took her away from the cold hands of her mother.
In the end he gave her to Falan to hold, the woman would expertly hold the black haired toddler in one arm and her blue haired counterpart in the other as she put them to sleep.
He had trusted the Parthavian woman, much more than his own wife. As he could see the woman's eye spark in delight when one of his children would call for her. He had never seen the spark in his wife's eyes unless it concerned Gyokumei.
Gyokumei who she attends to in her strange ways, would have a difficult time growing up. The young child is the first imperial princess, she will be the country's little darling. However he realizes at the same time, Gyokuen will never allow her daughter to be coddled like a spoiled princess.
Which is why Gyokumei is taken away from her mother. He will not allow Gyokuen to raise their daughter as a soldier when she is not expected to become one like her brothers.
They are all among hard times and children do not get to enjoy their childhood for long, thus he wishes to give her the best experience that he can.
IV.
Hakuyuu will succeed him, there is no doubt.
The small boy no longer has eyes wide with wonder, but with determination and fixed concentration. His shoulders are squared and his back ramrod straight as he sits quietly and listens. The austere expression of Shu Kokuhyou is fixed on the crown prince as he gruffly draws a line across a map indicating their battle formation for the next few days. In rapt attention Hakuyuu nods quickly, absorbing the tactics with ease.
The only child in the vicinity picks up war tactics like a sponge to water.
As the lesson finishes, the blue haired child stares expectantly at his father. Hakutoku spreads the scroll in his hand onto the desk in a flourish. The written characters of the Torran language dance into view as the two males smile.
Sometimes he finds it unfortunate for both his son and himself, that where they truly want to be is among dusty old tomes sitting in complete silence.
However they are given their own destiny where they must rule to save their treasured ones. They must put aside their own pleasures for the sake of protecting the ones they love.
They have a duty they must put above all else and fulfill.
IX.
Although he is not often in their lives, the emperor pays special attention to his children. He had spent most of his time with Hakuyuu, his first child who is his copy in looks and mentality. The growing preteen shows promise, but at times Hakutoku worries for him. The boy is usually serene and collected but is also impulsive concerning his siblings. The eleven year old acts more like a father to Gyokumei than the emperor himself, fretting over any injury he spots on his sister's delicate hands.
As Hakuyuu is to himself, Gyokumei is like his wife. She hides behind smiles and inquisitive head tilts. The girl smiles politely, but he knows with the slight narrowing of her eyes she is just as cunning and calculating as her mother. But all the same she is his daughter. She always laughs at him warmly, face glowing a soft pink when he shows her affection.
Although twins Hakuren and Gyokumei are not alike in the slightest. The two are Gyokuen's spitting image, both have a small face with big eyes and long eyelashes. However despite physical appearances, Hakuren is an oddball and unlike either himself or his wife. The sunny and boisterous boy is bright and loud, an opposite of both royal's quiet nature. He supposes his son has always tried to bring positivity and optimism to their lives, something the whole family lacks. Nonetheless when Hakutoku looks into blue orbs not dissimilar to his own, he watches as they morph into confidence and assurance when he takes him into battle.
Unlike how his first three children idolize him, his fourth shows no such thing. Hakuei is still a child and he regrets he is not able to give her the same attention he had to his previous children. Although the young girl is two years old, she does not cling to him as her sister did when she was younger. Her reactions, he finds are understandable. War takes him far from home, he can count the amount of times he has spoken to his youngest daughter alone on one hand.
However he loves her all the same for she brings her siblings together. Hakuren and Gyokumei can stand in the same room without fighting if their little sister is between them. She is a treasure who brings the whole family together in happiness, something he has not been able to do for years, and for that he is grateful.
XIV
"Emperor Hakutoku, may I request an audience with you?"
Sorting the papers in his hands, he places them in a neat pile to the side. His sole inky haired daughter stands before him, eyes devoid of her usual warmth. Instead her expression which she has only shown to a select few, is full of fluctuating assertiveness and uncertainty.
As she speaks he realizes it is not the same softness she uses with others, but at a volume slightly above a whisper. "There have been rumors of a boy from a small town in Parthavia who walked into a dungeon fill of peril and danger, but came out with treasures and unrivaled power."
He watches in silence as she continues, her voice is firmer than before, "There has been another sighting on the outskirts of the Tenka plains close to the eastern sea. I believe it would be beneficial if someone from Kou would conqueror it."
He has heard of the strange building sprouting across the grassy fields of Tenka. A massive structure that rivaled the palace itself sat on a green landscape. However so far, no individual came out of it alive.
"The boy Sinbad says that the creatures he faces in the dungeon have a wealth of knowledge outside of what is known to common man."
Intrigued by the idea he inclines his head slightly. "I believe there is a more than adequate candidate to achieve this."
Hakutoku feels a minuscule twitch of his lips as he hears his daughter praise her older brother. "Not only does his thirst for knowledge give him motive to defeat the dungeon, but he is both strong and well versed in combat. If there is anyone in Kou who deserves to conquer it, it should be Hakuyuu."
"I concur." He smiles as the uncertainty ebbs from his daughter's frame, "Hakuyuu Ren shall be the next dungeon conqueror."
XV
He notices the sudden change in his wife's behavior at Hakuyuu's successful dungeon conquest. She is ecstatic, truly smiling at others with a crinkle of light in her eye. Her interactions with her son in less than a month is more than the ones she has had with him in the past ten years. She walks with him in elation as little Hakuryuu toddles around his mother and brother.
One could have mistaken the small black haired woman for their daughter, the imperial princess who used to stick by the crown prince like glue. However the teenager is nowhere to be seen, often confined to her chambers. The roles of daughter and mother have switched.
The already strained relationship between mother and daughter becomes subtly frosty. Gyokumei adopts the steely tone of her brothers as the empress lets a sly grin escape from her upturned head as they engage in conversation. Only few notice: himself, Hakuyuu, Hakuren, Kouen, and Koumei.
XVI
"Gyokumei has suggested an interesting suitor for herself, that boy Sinbad."
Similar to his daughter, Gyokuen often has a minuscule twitch of her fingers. The twitch that foretells she knows something that he does not.
She turns to him, eyes wide in genuine worry. Thin arms grab his shoulder in concern as she looks up to him.
"My lord, but what if he uses Gyokumei to become king of Kou?"
A plausible reason to be concerned about, however he knows that is not the real reason for her fear. That is something she will always keep to herself; her thoughts, wishes, and dreams are things that will never escape her lips and be heard by anyone.
However he does know, his wife does not frighten easily. There is something terrible about this boy, that induces fear in his wife. Although Gyokuen does not care for the happiness and safety of Kou; the emperor knows she will give everything for her first daughter.
She continues in her prattle, hoping to convince him of her suggestion, "I think that to truly create unification as you say she should marry someone from Kou. Our wonderful nephew Kouen is a splendid example. He is the one most like you after our wonderful Hakuyuu after all."
Ocean blues meets auburn brown as she stares him down.
"Please Hakutoku, reconsider." She utters his name with such emotion, in a way that was long forgotten. She is for once desperate and almost pleading, as her wide eyed stare focuses on his face closely. Breathe shallow and eyes dilated, he brushes a hand across her own as he feels the quick thrumming in her veins.
"Very well."
XVII
His wife, he knows, is furious with him. As his daughter and her now husband stand before him.
A mane of sky blue hair tumbles down the man's shoulders, as he bows to the rulers of Kou. Dark ocean blues meet lighter hued orbs as the soldier looks on in honor at being chosen to be part of the imperial family. Gyokumei's face is shrouded by a red mesh veil as she exchanges a small drink with her husband before her parents, a Kou custom marriage.
The teenager was a promising soldier and someone the emperor trusted, someone who would not betray Kou.
Seishuu Ri, grandson of his right general Seiryuu Ri, becomes Gyokumei's partner in marriage.
It is difficult to see two of the unhappiest people in the room. Both are well versed in masking their expressions, that even at times Hakutoku finds it difficult to tell, the mother and daughter duo simply smile at the congratulatory wishes. They laugh as if this what they had wanted it all along as Gyokumei rests her palm on her husbands arm and speaks to the lords around them, and Gyokuen pretends to weep in a crowd of understanding mothers as her child is married off.
However he knows that some of her tears are real as she is relieved that her son in law standing before her is not Sinbad.
Lastly as he once more finds himself standing next to his brother, he realizes that perhaps it is not two unhappy people in the room but three.
XVII
Hakutoku is no fool, he knows the persona of a trophy wife does not suit Gyokuen. From the day he met her he knew she was shrewd and plotting something against him. He did not delude himself into thinking that two decades of marriage would change anything.
The woman had a goal to achieve and although he did not know what it was, he had no doubt she would do anything to achieve it. Even if it meant tearing down Kou bit by bit with someone she abhorred.
He notices the way his brother and her stay back, silent words exchanged between them.
They are plotting to overthrow him, to gather those who oppose his peace and wish to riot against him.
It is unfortunate he is already a step ahead of them.
XVII.
Every soldier and lord is present when he announces it, Hakuyuu will take on the throne next year.
It is quicker than he would like, but as his son has far surpassed him in combat ability he realizes he should abdicate from his rule. It is impossible for him to hear his brother growl from across the room at his announcement, but he hears it all the same. The feral anger and rage is for once marring his face, twisting it into an ugly scowl. Beside him, his fiery red haired sons show the complete opposite. Their faces split into grins and they slap their hands together loudly in applause.
The room echoes in thunderous applause as the first dungeon of Kou is proclaimed to ascend the throne in a few months.
XVIII.
It is rare for Gyokumei to visit the inner palace now, as she currently resides in the Ri residence.
As they exchange pleasantries, he immediately knows that something dire has occurred. His daughter falls silent as she rests her hands in her lap and sits down. Her fingers twitch slightly against her robes, he can hear a light swish of the cloth as it moves against the floor.
He does not want to ask, he does not want to know if by again going against his wife's advice that he has caused Gyokumei harm as he had all those years ago. But he must face the consequences of his decisions.
"How is Seishuu?" As the words leave his lips her fingers still and her brown eyes look to the side.
It does not matter if she is married to someone else and her name is no longer Ren, she is still his daughter.
"Gyokumei."
Her eyes meet his own and she blinks quickly at his expression; his eyes are drawn tight and his fingers are clasped in a tight fist. Surprise etched across her features she quickly utters, "He is a good man father." There is a lull of silence before she continues, "I am not unhappy. I feel satisfied."
Resigned, he clothes his eyes slowly. "Perhaps it was not the best marriage I could arrange for you."
"It is more than adequate father, thank you for taking care of me all these years."
She gets up and hugs him close. As she pulls away, she stares into his eyes. Dark auburn eyes so like her mother, are looking at him. But unlike Gyokuen's recent cold and narrowed stares that are directed toward him when he is not looking, his daughter's eyes are wide. Her eyebrows are raised high, her eyes slightly moist as she looks on with utmost fear.
"Father there is something I must tell you."
XVIII.
The doors burst open with men clad in red armor, a smell of ash follows in their wake as they surge into the room. Between labored breathes a soldier speaks out from a soot covered mouth, "Emperor Hakutoku, there is an emergency!"
The room stills. His children and their many cousins come to attention. The daughters of Koutoku crowd around their eldest brother in fear as they realize the stench in the air is not only of smoke and fire. A slick red substance is drying at the frays of some uniforms. Hakuryuu blinks as his sister pulls him close, Hakuei can only comfort her youngest brother as Hakuren is completely focused in his seat.
"In the Ri family's villa, there has been a fire! The first imperial prince and first imperial princess are alive but they're in critical condition-"
Hakuren is no longer in his seat, as he flies out the door Kouen and Koumei rush after him.
Seiryuu who is at his side looks on, his rough and unwavering voice betrays the tremble in his hand. "What of my grandson?"
The face of a defeated man stares back at the older general.
"Seishuu Ri is dead."
AN: So many new ideas popped into my head after reading the latest chapters! Unfortunately I've already solidified where I want to go with this story, so it will be diverging from canon quite a bit (short fic, so 9 chapters max). But gosh so many plot bunnies and now plot holes in my story.
Promised timeline will be next, because I'm very bad at logistics and I need to figure out how the ages are going to work out. Soso sorry!
Also Huzzah for procrastination, the urge to write always comes to me less than ten hours I have to take a test.