Tempus Saltandi (A Time to Dance)
The King of Han signed the new agreements on the spot and rose, walking out into the courtyard garden that separated Seiden and Meiden palace. The garden was unusually full, the Taiho and the Royal Consort were both taking advantage of the rare break in their usually hectic schedules, and it seemed that a winter garden party had been called for to celebrate the lapse in routine. Having a pretty good idea of what that Go Ranjou was really after, Gyousou followed him to keep matters from getting out of hand.
Taiki sat by the edge of the garden pond, his slight frame wrapped in blankets to ward away the chill of the Tai winter that penetrated even to the Imperial Palace. A decorative stone fire pit blazed cheerfully nearby to warm the celebrants. The sounds of shrieks and laughter and music sailed over the walls and the sight that greeted them as they maneuvered past the gate was one of impromptu gaiety. Yuka and her bevy of handmaids (or were they bodyguards? Gyousou was never quite sure…) were out in full force, filling the garden. The younger handmaidens were running around laughing and shrieking like children as they played a game that was part tag and part snowball fight, while the older battle-maid variety of handmaid settled near the fire pits alongside their mistress, instruments in hand. Yuka was playing some strange stringed instrument of a make that Gyousou had never seen before. It was flatter and smaller than a guitern, with less strings, but was played with a bow like an erhu and instead of being held upright on the lap was perched precariously on a shoulder.
"Ah, Yuka!" Taiki said cheerfully. "Is that the new one that was given to you by Nakajima-san?"
"Yes," Yuka said with a genuine smile, Gyousou could tell it was genuine because it had dimples. He noticed that they didn't appear as often as her politic smiles, the ones that were part of her mask, and then, he'd only ever seen them around Taiki.
"Are you going to play something for me?" Taiki asked next. "You don't play as often as you used to."
"It's hard to feel like playing with so much going on," Yuka replied honestly. "And I rarely have spare time."
"Play something happy!" Taiki urged her.
"As my Taiho commands," Yuka said with an ironic bow in his direction.
She warmed the instrument up then launched into a fast-paced piece that could have pulled right out of any inn or tavern in the north of Tai. She fumbled the fingerings a bit at first, clearly not warmed up or having practiced in a while, but after a moment or two her hands remembered what they were supposed to do. Taiki and a few of the maids joined hands to dance there in the garden, ostensibly for the purpose of warming their bodies, laughing and leaping about on the pattern of the energetic Running Dance.
: I Haven't heard that song in some years,: Gyousou thought appreciatively as he, too settled in to listen as well as keep an eye on the king of Han who had walked right over to settle himself at Yuka's feet, ostensibly to listen to the music better, but the lengthy look and eyebrow raise that Yuka shot Gyousou said it was lost on neither of them the way Han-ou leaned up against her legs, all but putting his head in her lap. Gyousou shook his head a little at this, he wasn't sure whether to consider the emperor brave or foolish.
:After all, it's one thing to flirt in letters from miles away, but quite another to press inappropriate displays of affection on someone when visiting them in their own country,: Gyousou thought. :I have heard he's a good king despite his eccentricities, he has to be aware that he is placing the poor girl in an awkward position. Even so, his regard for her seems genuine.:
The visiting emperor seemed quite enchanted by Yuka as she began to play a lovely slow piece that Gyousou had never heard before. Yuka, for her part, ignored him utterly, choosing instead to concentrate on her playing, and pretend that her erstwhile foot-warmer didn't exist. It wasn't open distain, but it was clear she wasn't pleased with him either.
The next song she launched into was an instrumental rendition of "Fair Wife of the Ocean" a traditional ballad about a young fisherman who stole the wife of the king of the ocean and brought calamity to his kingdom by inviting the youma in. The next one she played was another folksong, this one about two male friends, one of which betrayed his friend by stealing away the woman he loved, causing the two of them to fight to the death and the woman to die of a broken heart.
:I'm sensing a theme here,: Gyousou thought ironically.
The king of Han either did not know the songs and was thus unable to appreciate Yuka's subtle hint, or he simply didn't care, for he sat there making calf-eyes at her while she started on another song. After that one failed to produce any noticeable change in his inconvenient adoration, Yuka looked over at Taiki exasperatedly as if to say "can't this man take a hint?" The two of them had been partners for so long that they had an entire silent language, probably created in the royal court where there was a great deal that could not be said out loud. Gyousou suppressed a small pang of jealousy that his kirin would be able to be so familiar and comfortable around someone who was not him.
Yuka played another song, a slower piece, again along the same theme as the two before it and this time Taiki looked over to his king to shoo the visiting royal off. Reading the look as a request, Gyousou got up from the place he'd settled in (with the intention of going over some more paperwork) and walked over to sit down right next to Tai's Royal Consort, who made room for him. The girl looked at him out of the corner of one eye and turned back to concentrating on her playing. Han-ou audaciously squeezed in closer against her legs, actually resting a chin on one knee and smiling charmingly up at her.
:Is he trying to pick a fight?: Gyousou wondered to himself, a little irritated now at what could be rightly perceived as a challenge to him.
He saw that Yuka was wondering the same thing, when she exchanged another look with Taiki, who smiled with a wince clearly saying 'well really, what can be done?' Yuka responded with a flat look, as though she had a few ideas and none of them were very nice.
Gyousou was perfectly well aware that if left to her own devices, Lady Yuka would go on being polite and diplomatic in the face of the foreign king's outrageous behavior purely out of interest in those newly signed trade agreements. Of course, her diplomacy would only encourage that Go Ranjou to ignore all propriety and continue acting in his bold fashion. Gyousou understood that subtlety and polity were the hallmarks of her quasi-reign with Taiki, but the Peace-King of Tai, ex-general that he was, was more inclined to handle matters in a direct fashion.
:While her subtlety and restraint are admirable,: Gyousou thought with an internal headshake. :In this matter, perhaps the direct approach is best.:
He caught the eye of the lead instrumentalist and sent a subtle hand sign that they should change songs. The ladies all looked positively delighted, exchanging conspirational looks and smiles with one another. Gyousou rose to his feet and gently set a restraining hand on the Royal Consort's playing arm. She gave him a quizzical look as she paused in her playing and he motioned that she should set aside her instrument. Looking mystified as to his intent, she nonetheless acquiesced when he gently pulled her to her feet. The playing handmaidens changed their tune to a slow, intimate pavane. Gyousou pretended to ignore the imperial nuisance crouched at his consort's feet as he pulled her into the center of the gardens while the rest of the handmaids cleared out of the way so they could dance.
For the first time since he had known her, Gyousou got the opportunity to see the Royal Consort caught off-guard when he pulled her in close for the opening form. She stiffened, instinctively pulling away when he gently put a hand at the small of her back and Gyousou was forced to steady her by holding her in position firmly. The look she flashed him before she managed to school her features again looked like a cross between surprise and shy embarrassment. It had been a vary long time indeed since he had last danced with a woman, not since his wife had passed away in fact, but by the uncomfortable flush on his partners face he wondered if this might be the very first time she had ever been asked to dance.
:It's possible,: he realized with chagrin a moment later. :Kouri has said that they were both still of an age to be in schooling yet when she took up the mantle of Royal Consort. If she had not had any such experience before she stood next to Tai's throne, then she would not have had any such opportunities afterward, I would wager, for fear of rumors about favoritism at best and adultery at worst.:
Depending on the personality of the woman in question, never having had the opportunity to be asked to dance could be seen as a big deal.
She went through the motions smoothly and with a consummate grace that was probably the fruit of decades of training, though he noticed that she tried to keep her gaze fixed downward. That wouldn't do. There would be no convincing Go Ranjou to cease his pursuit of her if the foreign king was not convinced that there was nothing here in Tai for him to pursue. To that end she needed to appear to have eyes only for him. Gyousou gently tilted her face up to meet his. The steps of the dance had them spiraling around each other, like two moths circling a flame, twirling out and away only to be brought back in close again as though pulled by their own gravity to one another. Their bodies were drawn close to one another but the only part of them that met in contact were their hands pressed flat to one another. When they danced in close he held her gaze, though by the subtle tension on her hands it was clear she would have looked away if she could have. Even under the pale make-up of the royal consort she looked a bit flushed, and clearly discomfited.
:Poor thing,: he thought, this time in private amusement. :Clearly, she is not accustomed to dancing with strange men.:
The song finished and she made her ending curtsy, and would just as obviously liked to bolt for the safety of his kirin, who was probably her only dance partner, but Gyousou held her firmly to his side. Han-ou had really stayed as long as he was welcome to for now. Gyousou had a kingdom to settle and was more eager to be about it rather than entertain foreign royalty (no matter how welcome their trade agreements), it was time to shuffle the man off so that Gyousou could be about his business. Otherwise the man would surely offer to "protect" his Royal Consort by offering to take her back to Han with him, and Gyousou had plans for Her Royal Usefulness right where she was.
"Han-ou," Gyousou said, keeping a little space between the beleaguered Royal Consort and the visiting Royal Han by tucking her arm in his as a display of solidarity. "It is getting late and my kirin, my Consort and myself have many matters to attend to here in Tai. Perhaps you might like us to see you to your kijyuu?"
Perhaps it was not as subtle as he was sure his Consort would come up with, but he had the feeling that subtlety and polity would all be ignored by that insouciant ruler if given half a chance.
"Ah, of course," the foreign king said not taking his eyes off Lady Yuka. "It has been a pleasure to visit, you must come see Han some day soon. It's a great deal warmer."
Yuka kept her eyes down, apparently wary of giving him even the least sign of encouragement. Her cheeks were very slightly pink, so Gyousou considerately caught her elbow in his hand to keep her right by his side and out of Han's way.
"Your offer is all generosity," Yuka reassured him.
Gyousou noted that she didn't say anything about going for a visit. The two of them (and Yuka's usual entourage of women) plus Taiki, walked with the Emperor down to the south gate where he would meet up with the rest of his entourage, who was already packed and ready to leave. They made the usual polite farewells and well wishes for a safe journey.
"I hope your kirin likes the present," Yuka said, warily not coming very close to the foreign king's kijyuu, possibly half-worried he might actually try to pull her up onto it and kidnap her. "Send dear Hanrin my regards."
"I will, and please remember that my invitation to visit stands open at any time," he said with a smile at her.
"Safe journey to you, Han-ou," Gyousou said, with grave courtesy.
"Hmm. You'd think a man like yourself would be boring," Han-ou replied with unusual frankness for him. "There's certainly something usual about you. I think you may be a man who will live up to his own legend, and that is not something to be said lightly."
"I cannot help what legends others might make of me. A tiger never sees its own stripes, or so they say," Gyousou said, setting aside his usual reserve to show the teeth and claws of the tiger in his smile.
"So they say," Han-ou replied, acknowledging the unspoken challenge between them. "Time will tell. Best of luck to you king of Tai, may you reign a thousand years."
"And to you, King of Han."
The kijyuu flew up into the air and off into the distance.
"Don't let the door hit you where the Tentei split you!" Yuka muttered vehemently now that there was no danger of him overhearing.
"Now now Yuka, it's been a long time since we've had guests, I'd thought you'd be happy about it," Taiki said. "His behavior wasn't any worse than Komatsu-san's is normally."
"There's a difference between Han-ou's behavior and that womanizing Ever-letch's behavior," Yuka maintained as the three of them made their way back to the imperial apartments via a secret route so that Gyousou would not be seen. "Naotaka Komatsu never means anything of what he says. This guy would have carried me off like Helen of Troy if he could have gotten away with it."
"Helen of Troy?" Gyousou inquired.
Taiki and Yuka explained the basic story of the literary classic, though Gyousou had a hard time wrapping his mind around the idea that one kingdom could just decide to pack up their troops and go take over another kingdom just because of a perceived slight. It was against the Laws of Heaven in his world.
"Well that why there's never any peace where we come from," Taiki said sadly. "Someone is always fighting someone else over something."
"I hate hearing you kings whine so much sometimes," Yuka said with one of her expressive eye-rolls. "You all have no idea how good you've all got it! No invading forces, no international posturing and sabre-rattling to keep more powerful nations off your back, no terrorists, no fanatical religious wars that go on for hundreds and hundreds of years and it impossible to declare a winner..."
"Next time I get the urge to complain, I suppose I shall keep that in mind," Gyousou said gamely.
"You don't look like you complain much," Yuka replied. "You look like one of those manly-stoic types."
"That's a compliment?" he said, uncertainly.
"Well anyway, I'll leave you to your work," Yuka said, departing for her own quarters, leaving him with Taiki.
"Gyousou-sama," Taiki said. "Will you really have to leave so soon? You just woke up."
"I'm afraid so, Kouri," he said gently. "This divide will not settle itself quickly, even when I fire the four leaders of the insurrectionists. I will have to lead the fight against it in order to firmly reunite Tai again."
Gyousou left unsaid the worry he felt in his heart, that if he did not hurry, Kouri would become sick and Gyousou would not be swift enough to prevent it.
"I know I can leave the court safely in your hands," he encouraged the kirin.
"But..." Kouri protested. "What if someone tries to attack me or Yuka again?"
It was a valid concern. This whole mess had started because Gyousou had been forced to leave his kirin behind. He had not been unprotected at that time for Risai had been there, but it had not been enough.
"I will have to act quickly, and return before they get a chance," Gyousou said, with a soft smile as he reached out to ruffle his kirins hair. "Until that point, you and the girl will have to carry on as you have done."
"That Han-ou certainly seemed to like her a lot," Taiki remarked happily. "I think when she leaves to find her own husband, she should talk to him first."
"Huh? Leaves?" Gyousou asked, startled. "When is she leaving?"
He hadn't heard anything about this!
"As soon as she knows Tai and I are going to be okay," Taiki replied, as though it were a matter of course. "She's really old already, and tired of dealing with the court. I think she plans on having a vacation then running around to look for a husband."
"She already has one," he pointed out, a little miffed.
"Gyousou-sama, you were a proxy marriage," Taiki replied, as though it should be obvious. "She hadn't even said a single word to you before she agreed to be your wife, so that's not a real marriage. You two aren't in love. Yuka's put everything on hold to help me out, now's her chance to have her own life and be happy."
"Hnh... I guess I can't deny that one," Gyousou replied. "And what about you, Kouri? Have you missed out on life?"
"The only life I need or want is right here with you, Gyousou-sama," the kirin replied.