DISCLAIMER:
The characters belong to Sai Yukino and Kairi Yura, Kadokawa Shoten,
Madhouse Studios, etc., i.e., not me.
I'm just borrowing them for a
while to spin a tale
Submitted for Saiun
Challenge's October Challenge.
Word Count: +1,500 words. I won Second Place.
Choices
and Acceptance
By firewolf
November 2008
@>;-'-
Kouyuu thought that perhaps
he should have been more thrilled to have his father so quickly at his
side during this crisis. After all, Reishin was a completely
undemonstrative man, and he had never made such a huge public display
of his affection and concern for his adopted son before.
It wasn't as if Ryuuki sent word to the Kou estates that Kouyuu was
injured or poisoned. The crisis which gripped the palace concerned the
disappearance of Ran Shuuei after his investigative patrol was
attacked. It had only been vaguely hinted that Kouyuu had retreated to
his chambers when Shuuei remained missing nearly a day after the ambush.
Yet here stood Kou Reishin in Kouyuu's palace chambers on the same
evening his son was rumoured to have taken to his bed. This was
evidence enough that Reishin must have left the Kou Estates the same
day Ran Shuuei was attacked.
"I know it was not you, who sent the assassins." Kouyuu finally spoke
when he turned to face his father.
The relief in Reishin's eyes would only be discernable by someone who
knew him well. Ironically, Kouyuu was to number among these few only
after his father left Kiyou.
"As much as you dislike Ran Shuuei and abhore the triad created by the
Emperor and his twin flowers, the Kou Clan would never so openly invite
war with the Rans."
"You are astute, as befitting the Prime Minister's Aide."
As much as he loved the man, Kouyuu refused to make it any easier on
his father. Instead he let Reishin sweep his eyes over his current
attire which looked far different from the loose bed clothes worn by
the infirmed, but which were close fitting and designed for
unrestricted and swift movement. Clothes made not of the fine silks and
satins of court attire, but the cotton and leather of a soldier. It was
a garment hued in shades of the forest at night. And topping off the
entire look was a long silkly black wig reaching down the middle of his
back with a dark blue head band that kept the strands off his face and
a chin strap which ensured it stayed on his head. This man looked
nothing like the Prime Minister's Aide.
Kouyuu could see Reishin's lips quiver in the urge to speak, but he
knew the man would hold his tongue. For the entire time Kouyuu was with
him, Reishin had constantly tried to make Kouyuu understand that his
destiny was of his own choosing. And that Reishin himself ensured
Kouyuu had the complete freedom to select his path in life. As much as
he clearly disagreed with Kouyuu's decisions now, he would never oppose
it. And Kouyuu loved the man all the more for this.
A knock on the door frame interrupted their tensed silence and a grey
wolf preceded Kou Shouka's arrival. "She's ready."
Kouyuu smiled as he petted his no longer prestine white wolf. Shiro was
as eager to set off as he was. Who knew what kind of trouble Shuuei had
gotten himself into?
"Aniue..." The raw betrayal in Reishin's gaze was unmistakable yet
Shouka matched his younger brother's gaze evenly.
"It was better that I take him in and teach him, or he would have
learned on his own without any guidance." Shouka turned his gaze to his
aqua haired apprentice. "Even so, your son has surpassed his teacher in
the realm of poisons and their antidotes."
"Kouyuu." Reishin turned to address his son at last. "I did not wish
you to touch the darkness."
The younger man shook his head in gentle denial. "I remember my true
history, father. And you raised me above that sordid darkness."
Only Shouka knew his brother enough to notice Reishin's hand tighten
over his ever present fan for the first time Kouyuu ever addressed him
as 'father' in front of another person. Kouyuu never had the confidence
to do so before, but the younger man had matured and grown since
Reishin left the capital.
"I am not an assassin, father." Kouyuu rose from his wolf to approach
and take Reishin's hand. "Shouka sama never tried to lead me down that
path. My weapons are laced with drugs that bring sleep, not death."
"You should know your son well enough to realize he could never be an
aggressor, Reishin." Shouka teased his younger brother lightly to try
and ease the tension. "But he is tenacious in his defensive arts."
"Aniue..." Reishin's hands tightened over Kouyuu's. "But to fight--"
"Shouka sama would not teach me until I proved I could make and care
for my own weapons." Kouyuu released Reishin's hands to draw out his
twin bamboo fans and a few darts.
Reishin suddenly remembered then that the Prime Minister's Aide was
observed to have started carrying a fan tucked into his belt several
months ago. His hands trembled slightly as he picked up one of Kouyuu's
offered fans and a dart. They looked plain and painfully unadorned of
any decorations. However, much like the way Kouyuu made dim sum, the
workmanship was without fault and the balance perfect.
He opened the blades of the fan and almost dropped it when he saw the
character 'Kou' painted almost imperceptably over the midnight green
silk. 光 'Light...' Reishin wondered then if the ones who first named
Kouyuu used this character for his name.
Reishin returned the weapons and took a long measuring look at his son;
this young man who had a confidence in him that Reishin had never seen
before. He had to chuckle to himself.
"I-- find myself half wishing to find you abed as I had first
expected." He began slowly. "But I also cannot say I am disappointed
that you are actively taking action instead of passively waiting."
"Even if it is because of Ran Shuuei?" Kouyuu smirked.
"Even so." Reishin let out a long suffering sigh.
"You feared his excesses and see my childhood slavers in him, father,
but he is not them." Kouyuu told him gently as he took Reishin's hands
in his again. "He is my light against my dark moods. And he is my love
who protects me from my memories. He completes me, father. And I cannot
lose him."
Reishin's hands tightened over Kouyuu's at this statement. "He means
that much to you?"
Kouyuu nodded solemnly.
"Then you best swiftly bring your wayward Ran home, my son."
Shiro pulled on Kouyuu's belt lead, eager too to be off. Reishin looked
regrettable at the soot stained white wolf which he had given to his
son, hoping to 'wean' him off his 'dependence' on Ran Shuuei. Perhaps
it worked too well since her presence had also bolstered Kouyuu's
confidence to strive to be the recently restored Shogun’s equal.
Kouyuu released his father's hands and took a step back before bowing
to Reishin. "I thank you, father. For the freedom you gave me to choose
my own path in life; and for your love and strength in acceptance of
these choices."
These simple statements were almost Reishin's undoing as his heart
fairly bust with pride for his son. "You-- know that if you wished the
Kou name, I would give it to you."
"I know." Kouyuu smiled at him in assurance. "But as you intended, I
have far more freedom without it, while I also still remain the
recognized son of the Clan's head.
"A masterful move, father, which I am finally mature enough to
understand and appreciate."
Reishin inclined his head in acceptance of the praise for his
acknowledged deeds.
The grey stained white wolf tugged on Kouyuu's belt again, drawing a
resigned smile to Reishin's lips. "Go find your Ran, my son. I will
protect your alibi."
And Reishin was suddenly alone in his son's bedroom, staring at an
empty bed where he had originally expected to find his son pinning away
in grief and fear for Ran Shuuei's disappearance; a charade he realised
he had to maintain for his son's safety.
"You took that much better than I expected."
Reishin whirled around to confront the Prime Minister. "You knew this
too, Yuushun?
"Aniue, you... How many others?!"
Yuushun shook his head as he took a chair. "Shou Taishi, since the
Wolves of the Wind are his creatures. But not the emperor, not our
secret prince-- not Ensei who teaches him barehanded defensive arts--
not even the Ran boy himself knew. Kouyuu was always discrete with his
skills and lessons."
Yuushun paused while he studied old friend before speaking again. "My
wife..."
"She--"
"Kouyuu approached her in confidence for materials and assistance in
making his chosen weapons." Yuushun interrupted him. "Sai Rin is an
inventor, so the challenge intrigued her. But do not doubt Kouyuu made
his weapons with his own hands.
"Reishin, do you want to know why Kouyuu started on this path? What
prompted him to consider taking up a weapon?"
By now just numbed with all the revealations slammed before him since
his arrival in Kiyou, Reishin could only shake his head. "You've heard
of the incident of the pit vipers hidden among your son's papers?"
Reishin frowned at the memory of that frightful report. "Yes, you
killed one and Kouyuu distracted the other by throwing books at it
until Shiro could get close enough to catch and kill the second snake."
"That wasn't exactly how it happened. Your Aniue was with us."
Reishin's eyes went wide, understanding what Yuushun hadn't said.
"Kouyuu was upset with himself. He froze when the snakes first manaced
him. If Shouka dono wasn't near enough to sweep them aside, he would
have been bitten."
Reishin's face went pale at the thought of his son's close call.
"Kouyuu..."
"Ensei had been teaching Kouyuu barehanded fisticuffs, but it only
fully registered to Kouyuu that day the position he accepted as my
Aide." Yuushun lifted his cane to tap his leg ruefully. "I am pretty
useless in a fight. So *he* is our last line of defense if our guards
aren't near."
Reishin started to open his mouth to speak, but Yuushun cut him off
before he could utter a word. "Do not ask me to leave this job,
Reishin. I've told you before, I will not. And you know that Kouyuu
will not either, that is why you never tried to ask him."
Reishin fell silent and closed his eyes. "I just want to keep him safe."
"And he *is* far safer now, my old friend. With the Black Wolf's
training, Kouyuu will not freeze when faced with danger again and can
even defend himself now.
"Kouyuu isn't an assassin, Reishin." Yuushun told him gently. "Neither
your brother nor I would do that to you. Besides, he hasn't the
temperament for it."
The Prime Minister looked his old friend in the eye. "But he is an able
covert protector of the higher court, and a Master of poisons and
antidotes whom even Shou Taishi respects."
"It is the path he's chosen for himself." Reishin told himself weakly
as he sat on the empty bed, finally overcome by the many revelations.
"He has grown, Reishin. You must be very proud of your son."
"Yes, Yuushun. Yes, I am."
~owari~