Ran yori Idete Ao..
Part two...
Part one...
*******************
FOUR
“…uuuh~… it’s so far…”
The evening of the following day, Shuurei and Eigetsu walk slowly on the road to the Ran residence. From the Kou ward to the Ran… Once they get there, they will have to walk some more before they reached the first class area where the Ran residence is. Therefore, they have been walking since noon. In spite of that,, to pay some money to rent a carriage is out of question.
“…Shuurei-san.. I have the feeling that people are staring at us..”
“Me too. Isn’t that because of this feather we had in our chest here? It’s big and fluttering around, making us as stand out as its owner.”
“Ummm… I don’t think that’s the reason..”
And then, a few fierce-looking men appeared and surrounded the two of them.
Shuurei got a bad feeling about this.. She felt that she had experienced something similar in the past.
“…hey, Eigetsu-kun.. I don’t want to think about this, but.. did you happen to secretly take and drink sake from our house yesterday?”
“A.. absolutely not! Uh.. but, I don’t have any recollection of what had occured so I can’t be sure..”
At that time, along with the scent of a high class fragrance, someone embraced Shuurei from behind.
“…just as I thought! It’s Shuurei-chan and her friend.”
“Kochou-neesan!?”
“Fu fu, it has been long since the last time we see each other. I see.. both of you have finished your exam, right? I won’t ask how was it, but.. will you let me ask you something else?”
The unrivalled beauty shows her magnificent smile.
“It’s about the owner of the feather on your chest. I’m looking for two people who were seen walking alongside a 20-ish young man who was wearing an unusual outfit. Do you remember anything?”
Shuurei and Eigetsu froze instantly. At the sight, Kochou clicked her fingers.
“Confirmed. As one as Kiyou’s oyabun, I’ll have you to go with me for a little while.”
Kochou, who’s Shuurei knew as a kind person, looks frightening being surrounded by a number of rough looking men,
“U.. umm.. Kochou-neesa..”
Kochou heaved a sigh.
“This time, even I can’t cover you up, you see.. Shuurei-chan, if you have any grudge, you’d better directing your grudge against that peacock boy.”
Shuurei stopped. ..in the following moment, she let a scream out of her.
“…that idiot!! What the hell has he done this time!!!!!”
It was just last night that she had said those words to her father. Now she had regretted for ever saying those words; as much as she wants to retrieve, to crush, and to bury it deep in the ground.
*******************
In no time, all of Kiyou’s oyabun have gathered. Sweat cold are running through their spine, when the two of them have to sit in front of the oyabuns
“…umm.. so.. so, what did that idiot…”
Kochou seemed perplexed, then folded her arms.
“Well.. he had visited all gambling den in this city in just one night. He had a winning streak in every single den, to the extent that he left nothing out of the profit we’re supposed to earn.”
One of the oyabun glared at Shuurei.
“We don’t care if he won the game. Nonetheless, no matter how you look at it, he has been way too rude. Even in gambling, you should, at least, show some manner.”
“Ga.. gambling…”
Shuurei trembled, while Eigetsu went pale as he no longer knows what to say.
“He didn’t even give his name, but his peculiar outfit, you see? We have information that you two have been seen walking along his side. It’s unfortunate for you, but you’ll have to stay here for a little while to lure him out. I swear to Kou-sensei, I won’t let you get hurt.”
That very moment.
When they thought that the clamouring outside is getting louder, the door is sent flying by an enormous strength.
“…taking my bosom friends as hostages… you’ve commited an inhuman and insolence act that deserves certain death! On behalf of Heaven, I shall punish you!!”
Shuurei and Eigetsu are dumbfounded. …for a moment, they have no clue of the person who was just barging in.
“…Ryu.. Ryuuren!?”
Ryuuren beamed when he saw the two of them.
“Bosom friend no. 1 and no. 2! Are you alright!? Now you have nothing to worry!”
“What’s with that decent appearance? Who are you!?”
“I’m extremely reluctant as well, however, it takes too much time to change into that.”
Ryuuren, who is lettting his hair falling free in his back and wearing an elegant outfit that can be mistaken as Shuuei’s, is just an ordinary handsome young man. Angrily, Ryuuren placed the package he had brought to the table. A faint sound resonated.
“It’s laughable for unfairly trying to filch on the small change that I’ve honestly earn ; however, this can never replace a friend’s life. To think that you would go this far only for a small change.. I put all of yesterday’s earning there. With this, I shall have you to return my friends.”
The chivalrous spirit within the oyabuns boiled.
“Hey, ex-peacock! Don’t get this wrong. Indeed, money is important, however, it was you, in the first place, who have been failed to obey the manner in gambling. One day one den, and you have to leave after winning to a certain amount. If you want to make the whole den as your own, you have to deal with the broker . That’s how it’s supposed to work, right? And what you’ve done yesterday? Not only you’ve made all dens in this city went broke, before the broker meets you, you’ve escaped taking only the money. Because of you, the money circulation has been put in a halt. It’s a matter of life and death for our subordinates. You’ve to be preached for a little bit.”
“Besides”, the oyabun shifted his gaze to the package which has just faintly clattering when it was being placed in the table.
“Is this all you’ve got yesterday? This is obviously not much. So, you’re greedy over money as well? For you, money is more important than your friends’ lives?”
This time, Ryuuren raised his finely shaped eyebrows.
“Are you saying that I’m filching the money? When the lives of my friends are at stake, money is out of question. This is what I have exchanged for on my way home. I tell you beforehand, this item worth more than what I have earned yesterday.”
With that statement, everyone in the room starts to pay attention to the package. Ryuuren said that it was only a ‘small change’; however, speaking in a matter of fact, that much amount of money is enough for a person to start over their life three times in a row.
“What? Is it precious stone or something?”
One of the curious oyabun unwrapped the package.
The item rolled out of it was..
Claank.. someone dropped their pipe. Rather than silent, they have become speechless. Except for Ryuuren, everyone in the room was stiffened, both mind and body.
The first one to give out a scream was the one who is deeply connected to that, Shuurei.
“….gyaaa!! Noooo!!! What’s with that face!? It’s a face, right!? Is that peeled off right from Tou-sama’s face!?”
“P p please calm down, Shuurei-san! It’s a mask! It’s very similar, but you don’t have to worry. Before we came here, Shouka-san still had his face as he usually does! …euh… he had, hadn’t he? He’s supposed to have it.. right?”
Even the delicate Eigetsu’s logic went chaotic, preventing him to think clearly.
As if nothing happened, Ryuuren went on with his explanation.
“Yesterday, on the way home, I met a man, who’s apparently not in his right state of mind, loitering around. It was then that he dropped this. When I take a look at the mask, it’s truly a magnificent craft. No, rather, looking from the shape, obviously this is a person with whom my bosom friend no. 1 is deeply related. When I was about to put it into my pocket, in fear that someone might use this for evil purposes, that man suddenly regained his senses and started to persistently chasing after me, screaming ‘return that ‘rather troubled look ’ baaaaack’.”
“Ra.. ‘rather troubled look’…”
It’s certainly a ‘rather troubled look’.
“I presumed that this indeed will be used for evil intention, however, I couldn’t possibly steal anything. In exchange, I left (= thrown) him the money I have earned , but he didn’t pay any attention and keep on chasing. He must have been feeling guilty or the sort. Bosom friend no. 1, it was a close call for your father.”
“..which youkai is that..”
Honestly, what kind of evil purposes will require her father’s ‘rather troubled look’..
Bravely, Kochou poked Shouka’s ‘rather troubled look’ mask.
“…my.. this mask is very well done. Somehow, I can feel its persistence.”
“That’s the whole story. The money I earned yesterday has turned into this. For me, this is worth more than that small change. Do you have any objection?”
Urk.. the oyabuns can’t say anything. Ryuuren has declared that the mask of his friend’s father (on top of it, it is Kou-sensei) worth more than money. The spirit of righteousness of the oyabuns could do nothing to refute. In fact, if this were to happen under normal situation, they would laugh and say, ‘that’s the spirit!’. However, the amount of money involved is not a laughing matter; on top of that, they were made silent by the very man they were about to preach. Indeed, they are confused as how to react.
“Then, are you accepting this exchange or not!?”
Instead, they want to say, ‘just take them back!’. However, it wouldn’t make the ends meet.
“..ve.. very well. But you still have compensation money left. You’ve prepared yourself for that, I suppose?”
“Good timing. I also have some business to settle.”
“Huh?”
“It’s with you who have kidnapped my friends. If I were to leave the mask of my friend’s father here, I wouldn’t know the kind of bad deed you are going to use it for. I will have it back fair and square.”
Calmy, Ryuuren seated himself in a corner of a table in the middle of the room, and then he tossed a pair of dice easily. The oyabun’s expression has changed.
…they have been challenged into a match.
“I challenge you to a knock-out competition . If I win against all of you, I shall have that father’s mask back. If I lost, I shall pay any price you ask.”
Time has passed since anyone ever proposes such a ridiculous term of challenge to the oyabuns. However, the opponent is the man who has won against every single gambling den in Kiyou in just one night. They won’t hold back.
“We’ll let you decide the game. What are we going to use?”
“Three against one. The fuda will be ‘ryuu’.”
“Fine. We’ll make you cry, boy.”
The other three corners have been filled.
Shuurei and Eigetsu can no longer think of what kind of occurrences that has led into this situation. They can only watch the scene before them in wonder. Kochou smiled bitterly and approached them.
“Men are indeed foolish. Well.. you don’t have to worry. In case they still haven’t reached any conclusion before dinner time, I will settle this.”
*********************
…Ryuuren’s strength in the game is not a bluff. The men who have reached the position of Kiyou’s group of oyabuns are well-known gambling masters at their era. However, Ryuuren was able to seize victories one after another against the oyabuns.
“’Shinryuu hishou’ (神龍飛翔). I win.”
Against an opponent who calmy displayed a series of nearly-impossible-to-get cards, one of the oyabuns with the lowest card value had to resign in sorrow. Kochou glanced at the sunset outside, and sighed.
“Come, who is next?”
“I am.”
While showing her beautiful smile, Kochou took the empty seat. At once, the group of defeated oyabuns began to cheer up.
“Way to go, Kochou! Don’t go easy on him!”
“Let that boy get the taste of the harshness of human’s life!”
The two oyabuns left are the strongest compared to the rest of the group who have been defeated. They’re still composedly watching as where the game will take them. They have the confidence to win against this unexpected young master. However, the rest of the oyabuns who saw that the two of them are being tossed around have been conquered by the impression that they’re going to lose.
Kochou cut off the barking of the group of losers who were loudly cheering over their last champion in an instant.
“Really… men are pathetic. Those who lose is forbidden to enter Kougarou for two months.”
“….!!”
A very pathetic shriek was raised from the direction of the defeated group. However, Kochou didn’t bother to notice.
“You two, step down from this game. This will be one on one between me and this boy; don’t you agree? Cute boy.”
Ryuuren didn’t event budge against Kochou’s ultimate flirtatious glance. Instead, he nodded in a serious manner.
“A woman of your spirit is admirable. I shall accept. However, for the sake of my friend, I can’t go easy, even though I have to go against a woman. All human are equal, and I will not discriminate.”
“Fu fu, if only you’re willing to go easy on me, it will help me a lot. Well.. this is a serious match. I will not hold back.”
Zaa… the cards is being distributed.
Ryuuren took the cards. However, before taking hers, Kochou’s hand reached out to something else. Without any hesitation, her slender hand reached out to Shouka’s mask that has been carefully placed as if it was the game’s prize.
“Kou-sensei, lend me a bit of your strength.”
After her sweet whispering voice, Kochou, unexpectedly, put the mask in her face.
“….!!”
The atmosphere was frozen in an instant. It was a frightening silence.
The mask is very well crafted, that nobody can laugh at it. The face is Shouka, however, the body is that of a perfect voluptuous beautiful woman. At the same time, the visible yet invisible bust has become -somewhat- a nightmare. The white beautiful long leg lines have become nothing but a nightmare, because it has Shouka’s face.
And then, for the first time since his arrival, Ryuuren seemed to be distracted. Although he was trying to concentrate on his cards, his attention is obviously taken by the mask, as he started to intermittently send hesitated glances at its direction.
Kochou is the only one unaffected. Wearing the mask, she took her cards and kept on playing.
“Come on, boy. Your hand is stopped. Hurry up and take your next card from the stack.”
Ryuuren’s hand is about to stop, but he managed to somehow continue the game for a while. However, when the game has reached its last round, Ryuuren’s outstretched hand is fallen down.
“Ugh…”
Ryuuren’s graceful looks has been disoriented with agony.
“I can’t do this…! My opponent is my bosom friend’s father! On top of that, he’s staring at me with that ‘rather troubled look’… My heart hurts just by thinking that I have troubled my bosom friend’s father .”
‘Is that what you’re worried about!?’, is what the people in the room screamed in silence after his exclamation.
Ryuuren displayed the cards he had in hands. It was in the middle of the game, therefore his action meant that he has stepped down.
“Fu fu.. then the game has been decided. I win.”
Kochou put off the mask, showed her fascinatingly elegant smile.
“As you’ve promised, I will have you to pay the compensation.”
“…I understand.”
“Not you, boy; instead I will have your brother, Ran-sama, to take the responsibility. Isn’t that right, Ran-sama?”
Kochou glanced at the door.
“I shall pay twice of your claimed amount, Kochou.”
Shuuei entered the room with an exhausted look. He pushed down his younger brother’s head to bow and apologize.
“I’m really sorry. My foolish brother (gutei) has caused trouble for you all. I will surely compensate later on.”
“Gukei no. 4.”
“Silent! I’m fine with this; but, are you going to put your friends into more trouble than what they already have now? After all the trouble they have went through to invite you for dinner, look at what you have involved them into! The sun has set down already.”
As if he just realized the fact, Ryuuren turned to look at the orange-dyed sky outside the window. Then he turned back to look at Shuurei and Eigetsu, and at the oyabuns. Slightly after that, he bowed.
“I have no idea what this was about, however it seems that I have done an inexcusable thing. After this, I shall find out the cause while having dinner. When I have fully understood, I shall come to offer you my sincere apologize.”
Kochou laughed, and tossed Shouka’s mask to Shuurei.
“Shuurei-chan, I give this to you. Maybe Kou-sensei knows something about this.”
Shuurei felt weird when she looked at her own father’s ‘rather troubled look’. Because she is his daughter, she is terrified.
“..we well.. someone who is able to make a mask that closely resembles Tou-sama like this must be one of his acquintances. ..rather than that, what is the purpose of this mask, anyway..”
Shuurei thought of Kou (Kijin)-shousho in relation of mask, however, she quickly shook that thought off. He would never do something as foolish as this.
“Which idiot who has made this kind of mask!?”
Shuurei didn’t aware of Shuuei’s -somehow- unusually complicated expression.
And like that, the four of them leaving the Kiyou oyabuns behind while dragging Ryuuren who has been causing the commotion.
*********************
“He is Ran Shuuei’s brother, eh..”
For the Rans, that amount of money surely fits in ‘small change’.
After the four of them left, Kochou chuckled at one of the dumbfounded oyabun’s remark.
“I wonder if my winning against the rumoured ‘Ryuuteki tobaku-shi’ (龍笛賭博師/dragon flute gambling master) will raise my value.”
“’Ryuuteki tobaku-shi’!? It’s him!?”
“Indeed. The rumour that started ten years ago, about a master of gambler who appeared in times at various regions, who had an enormous streak of winning and disappeared like the wind is that boy. He has never lost, not even once. He has made countless broker cried over their losses. Once he won, he will surely play the ‘soothing flute’ as his finishing blow, thus gained the nickname ‘Ryuuteki tobaku-shi’. I see, this is his first time in Kiyou. Somehow, we’re able to protect the reputation of Kiyou’s oyabun group.”
Elegantly, Kochou rose from her seat.
“Now, it’s time for me to get to work. Ah, what I’ve said earlier about those of you who have lost. You’re not allowed to enter Kougarou for a while. If you dare showing your face around, I’ll throw you out. Use that time to fix your guts.”
Kochou left splendidly, leaving the frozen men behind. One of the oyabun, who, by chance, glanced at the displayed cards in the table, raised a surprised voice.
Ryuuren’s cards, he needed only one more card to make the strongest combination, ‘Ryuuou Kourin’ (龍王降臨). And to speak of Kochou’s, it was also the exact same ‘Ryuuou Kourin’. Moreover, her cards composition has been completed.
There is only one card in each stack in order to compose a ‘Ryuuou Kourin’. It is not possible to compose 2 set of it. …someone, or maybe each one of them is a master of trickster.
However, Kochou who is able to distract the mind of the ‘Ryuuteki tobaku-shi’, and got one step ahead of him in composing a ‘Ryuuou Kourin’…
“…as to be expected…”
No one can win against her.
The cold northern wind blows through their hearts.
FIVE
“That’s what I’ve been telling you. In order to lighten your burden, I’m earning small change through an honest means.”
“Which part of gambling is honest!?”
“Am I wrong? Up until now, I’ve been filling what I need by doing that.”
“Li listen to me! You have to make it with the allowance sent by your family!”
After she said that, for some reason, Shuuei averted his eyes.
“…well.. Shuurei-dono, the truth is, when Ryuuren began his wandering, he only received 1 ryou of gold. It was our elder brothers’ policy to look after ourselves.”
“Eeeh!?”
Eigetsu is amazed. For a commoner, one ryou of gold is worth a fortune; however, it’s an unbelievably small amount for a young master of the Rans who is about to set on his journey. Being said that, perhaps it wasn’t even worth one of the feathers he had.
“The.. then.. that outfit of yours.. don’t tell me it is…?”
“Of course, I earned that on my own. I have raised the amount of one ryou of gold that I had at the beginning of my journey. That place can be used to quickly raise small change. Therefore, when I need some, I go to find one nearby, and earning some… Why do you say that it’s not honest?”
Shuurei threw a cold look at Shuuei.
“…Ran-shogun…”
“…please complain to our elder brothers..”
Corwardly, Shuuei shifted the blame.
“By the way, bosom friend no. 1.. In the end, I couldn’t earn anything, and I want to do something in exchange. As a friend, what else can I do to help you?”
Shuurei could no longer think clearly out of exhaustion.
“..then, I give you some money. Will you buy the groceries for tonight’s dinner? I’ll be home to make preparations.”
“Okay, I get it. I’m requesting torinabe, because it was a (money-saving) vegetable nabe that we had at the dorm.”
A vein popped out of Shuurei’s temple. Shuuei casually stepped on his brother’s leg to silence him.
“By the way, Shuurei-dono.. is it alright if I join you for dinner tonight?”
“? Yes, absolutely. Please do.”
“Thank you.”
Behind his charming smile, Shuuei felt at ease from the bottom of his heart.
Using his network of information to its fullest, the man who had made the mask must have been found out about Ryuuren and his identity. Shuuei was able to escape to the oyabuns’ place right before that man had gotten the information. In spite of that, no matter how Shuuei thinks about it, that man must have been waiting for him in front of the Ran residence. Before that happened, he shall make his move, to go to the only place where a certain shousho could never lay his hand on, to hand over the mask through Shuurei and to have that man scolded. It is the only way out for Shuuei.
(…after all, among the Rans, only my elder brothers who can equally stand against him..)
*********************
When they have arrived at Shouka’s residence and showed the mask to Shouka, he was silent for a moment. Not long, he laughed.
“Yes, don’t worry. I certainly have an idea of whose this belongs to. Later on, I’ll strictly talk to that person.”
The next day, the icy shousho of Ribu is entering a state of confinement for the time being. And then, Kou Reishin’s visit to Shouka’s residence has to be postponed.
And also, Ryuuren --who is supposed to go to buy chicken-- for unknown reason, hasn’t returned until late at night. When he had returned, he brought something else instead of chicken. Shuurei couldn’t comprehend what was handed over to her.
“…what is this…”
“As you can see, it’s a strand of straw .”
“Where are the dinner’s ingredients which I asked you to buy!?”
“After a series of event, it turned into this straw.”
…people often heard of a fairy tale which told an opposite story. However, the story of a person who brought some money in his journey, and after a series of event, turned his money into a strand of straw is unheard of.
When she questioned him, he told her that he had bought soya beans with the money. He exchanged the bean with eggs, eggs with leek, leek with firewood, firewood with flower bouquet, bouquet with a bundle of straw, and at last, he gave all of his straw to a girl who has been crying over her bundle of straw which have been blown by the wind, leaving only one single strand.
Obviously, the series of exchange is due to Ryuuren’s personal thought, based on reason unknown to others. Being said that, she couldn’t comprehend what Ryuuren had in mind, that in order to buy ingredients for torinabe, he has to, first of all, buy soya beans; a fact which left no room for Shuurei to sympathize. However, his last exchange was, certainly, an act of goodwill, which made Shuurei wanted to get angry, yet couldn’t.
“…I I get it. If that what had happened, then you couldn’t help it.”
And thus, the dinner prepared at the table that night was a vegetable nabe. As to be expected, Ryuuren couldn’t complain; needless to mention that his brother, Shuuei, couldn’t say a word as well.
EPILOGUE
That night, Shouka and Shuuei enjoyed the beautiful moon while eating snack and drinking sake.
It was midnight, a faint sound of poorly played flute can be heard from the direction of the garden. Ryuuren is greatly impressed with his first visit to Shouka’s residence; so much that he’s still wandering around checking on the garden.
“I’m surprised that, at last, there is a place suited to be my residence. That run down roof, crumbled walls, that loosely arranged roof tile and stone paving.. those countless pitiful mending attempts, overgrown weeds… this wonderful residence is refined, as it is truly united with nature. When I glanced at your back yard, I saw a field. Your intention to be self independent is admirable. All passed. We have the same idea in mind, my friend.”
…because of his brother, Shuuei started to fear that people’s appreciation of him will be severely damaged to no end.
As if attempting to escape from the sound of the flute, Shuurei and Eigetsu have returned to their rooms after the meal. At the moment, they must have been rolled up in their beds, desperately trying to sleep while keeping their ears shut from the sound of flute drifted along the wind once and a while. Despite his lousy skill, the sound of Ryuuren’s flute is -somehow-had the tendency to stay on one’s ear, of which, Shuuei thought, makes it more difficult to handle.
Suddenly, the sound of flute had stopped.
If it wasn’t Shouka, nobody would be aware that Shuuei had ceased, for one brief moment, and then emptied his cup as if nothing happened.
(As to be expected of Ran-shogun)
Deep down, Shouka admired his response. While chasing after the presence in the garden with his senses, Shouka offered the sake jar to Shuuei.
“Your elder brothers, are they doing fine?”
With his free hand, Shuuei poured some sake from the jar to fill in Shouka’s cup.
“Shouka-sama, I think you know better than I do. They only sent me several simple words that even shorter than one line which His Majesty wrote for his love letter.”
“Is that so? Once in a while, they do sent me a proper letter..”
“They’re willing to go to that length only because it is Shouka-sama.”
Shouka heaved a sigh, as if he recalled something.
“Since the old days, Reishin has been causing trouble for your elder brothers. Nonetheless, they’re still treating me kindly. I’m very happy. I wonder why they can’t get along, despite they’re of the same age…”
The relationship the between current leader of the Kous and the three leaders of the Rans are very bad. However, Shuuei who, more or less, understood the reason behind it, couldn’t say anything.
“…please take this as a nonsensible joke because of the sake..”
Shuuei shifted his gaze outside through the window.
“..Shouka-sama, my brothers never said anything. However, when I passed the imperial examination, unexpectedly, they said that I have to go to the archives.”
“….”
“When I went there, I can understand their reason. …if only you’d take part in political domain, undoubtedly my brothers and the other Ran’s officer will be returning to the court in no time.”
The wind swayed the tip of trees.
Slowly, Shouka emptied his cup. And then, he laughed gently.
“Ran-shogun, at this moment, it’s not an important affair for the country.”
That’s why, Shouka thought of his student.
His arrival as well, wasn’t because of that reason.
Ryuuren suddenly stopped when he was playing his troublesome flute to the extent of his heart. A young man is standing in front of him.
“I have read your examination paper.”
The man in shadow, slowly began to talk.
“Undoubtedly, you will pass in one of the three top ranks, as you’ve promised to the leaders of the Rans.”
“What do you want?”
Ryuuren didn’t ask for his name. His opponent also didn’t ask for Ryuuren’s. Such a question would be meaningless.
“I’m here to see you, a Ran who has been able to pass the imperial examination. You may pass this to the leaders of the Rans, that two days before the exam announcement, the emperor has went to see Ran Ryuuren.”
Ryuuren narrowed his eyes.
“If you have anything else to say, I shall pass them as well.”
“The court can manage, without Ran’s direct descendant or Ran’s officials.”
Unhesitantingly, the man in shadow said it.
“The Rans are certainly important. Regardless, I think that there won’t be any trouble if the dragons remain in their slumber. I’m pleased with the officials that I currently have. From now on, I shall nurture them. There are times where I might seek the Rans for their support, but I won’t implore them for that. As the emperor, I couldn’t depend and have expectation for an invisible opponent.”
However, he continues.
“If the dragon awakes, and willing to, again, lend me their strength, I’d be glad to take their hands.”
The emperor is being examined by the Rans. High-ranked officials of the court have been aware of that, ever since Ran Ryuuren’s participation in the imperial examination is confirmed. The result will be judged through the exam. That’s why, they’re holding their breath, and watching in silent.
The three leaders of the Rans have made their first move. For ‘Ran Ryuuren’ to pass the imperial exam in one of the top three ranks. To see how the emperor will act against him who has become of an importance within the court, both in name and existance. In order to judge whether or not the emperor is truly worthy to be obeyed.
“When Shuuei passed the exam, I didn’t do anything. That’s why, he moved to the army.”
The youngest prince who didn’t do anything. The Rans decided to abandon him. Perhaps Shuuei was discouraged as well. That’s why he had resigned from his position as a civil officer. However, his choice to stay as a military officer might be perceived as pure luck.
“In spite of that, the Rans have given me one more chance. I’m afraid this time might be the last. It’s too good of a chance if I were to let it goes by. That’s why I’m here. Please tell them. That Shi Ryuuki is waiting without any expectation.”
“It’s my promise with my brothers. I shall pass your messages.”
“Ran Ryuuren.”
“What?”
“Do you have any intention to be the leader of the Rans?”
“No.”
“Then, do you intend to be an officer?”
“My answer is still the same.”
Ryuuren answered in an instant. And then, he glanced at the rooms where Shuurei and Eigetsu were supposed to rest.
“…perhaps, I think that I shouldn’t desire such a thing.”
He didn’t say more than that. And then, as if the emperor is no longer around, he is about to start playing his flute again, when he was forced to halt.
“I want to ask a favour from you. Not from you as one of the Rans, but from you as Ryuuren.”
Before Ryuuren can respond, Ryuuki brought several items out of his pocket. It’s the seal and badge of the governor of the Sa province, the ones that Ensei had handed over to Ryuuki during last summer.
“Sometime in the future, I’d like you to visit the new governors, and bring these as presents.”
“I’m asking this favour of you, two parts of it because you’re a Ran, and the rest 8 part is because I think you have the competence to do this. When you think the time has come, I want you to come and take these.”
“…”
“You will certainly accept my request. As an emperor, I can’t make you do anything. However, it’s different in their case. When you felt inclined to, I’ll be happy if you write me about events occurred in your destination.”
In other words, please be my spy. In regards to those words, Ryuuren raised his eyebrows.
“Without any words to gukei… eh? Fuh.. Shuu-aniue doesn’t even earn your faith.”
“I trust him, from the bottom of my heart. However, unlike you, Shuuei couldn’t separate his mind from the Rans.”
“Even if Shuu-aniue doesn’t know, my other three brothers would certainly have predicted my movement without me having to tell them.”
“I don’t mind. It’s not that I’m trying to keep this a secret. The most important thing is the fact that I (私) ask no one but you for this matter.”
It is, again, his move against the Rans.
Ryuuren kept silent. For him, ‘promise’ is not something that can be easily done. The weight of words that one have to carry out is not light.
That’s why, he only said the obvious.
“It would be lacking of refinement if I were to visit my friends bringing only that as presents. It will be sometime between summer and the beginning of autumn, eh? I shall add some pears.”
His tone as if he was just following something that has been occurred.
And then, as Ryuuren began to play his flute, the man in shadow silently disappeared.
*********************
The emperor of Saiunkoku, Shi Ryuuki, left Shouka’s residence. He heaved a sigh when a young man approached.
“…for the time being, I’ve done whatever I could, Aniue.”
“Stop calling me that. Or else, I will only talk in a formal (polite) manner.”
Ryuuki responded in hurry. After all, this is one of his precious brief moments.
“I I’ll stop.”
He felt that his brother is laughing.
“…in spite of that, I wouldn’t have thought that ‘Ran Ryuuren’ will appear after I’m gone.”
“He said he won’t join the court.”
“Obviously. ‘Ran Ryuuren’ has the ability to influence the entire Rans. Having him in court is similar to publicy announce that the Rans is at the emperor’s favour. That’s why, instead of ‘to become an officer’, the three leaders of the Rans made him promised to ‘pass the imperial exam in one of the three top ranks’.”
Indeed, Ryuuki nodded in agreement. And then, a little bit happy, he looked at his brother.
“..thank you for listening to my unreasonable plea.”
“That’s because neither Kouyuu-dono nor Ran-shogun can be by your side for this. Both of them are deeply involved with the leaders of Kous and Rans who’s trying to see through the emperor. However, I don’t recall of doing anything..”
“It’s enough for staying by my side.”
Seiran smiled bitterly. …no matter what he had said, he is, obviously, soft on him.
“I will spoil you only for tonight.”
Come to think of it, Seiran said while setting his eyes on Ryuuki. Amongst the Ran brothers, it was only him that he didn’t have the chance to meet.
“What kind of boy is that ‘Ran Ryuuren’?”
“Boy…”
Obviously, from his brother’s perspective (age), the 18 years old Ryuuren might seem to be a ‘boy’.
“Does he look like Ran Shuuei?”
“Ah, he does.”
Ryuuki had said something very rude.
“…but, he’s deeper than Shuuei. I heard that he’s a weird man, but I saw him as an honest one. However, somehow I feel that it isn’t his true self. It isn’t one of his many sides either. It’s just like a twist of rope. You see only one of it, but in fact there are many of them inside. I was trying to pull out one of them, yet I have no idea whether or not his true self is included in the one that I’ve pulled out. …when you try to touch him, you won’t be able to do so.”
“As to be expected of ‘Ran Ryuuren’. …a young master who resembles the Rans itself.”
A presence that wouldn’t let anyone to firmly hold them at any time, one of the noble amongst the nobles of Sainana-ke.
“Now, shall we go?”
And then, the two of them are walking slowly along the short road heading to the palace, the only place where they spent the only time they ever have as siblings.
*********************
The day when the exam’s result is announced…
At the moment when the result is posted on the board, everyone’s eyes are taken by one certain name.
For a moment, an eerie silence swept over the crowd, followed by whispering sounds here and there.
”..bougen?”
“He passed as bougen???”
Shuurei and Eigetsu, both are speechless, to the extent that they didn’t realize that their name were right before and after that name.
Compared to Shuurei, Eigetsu has been aware of his talent since he spoke a lot with him. In spite of that, he had never thought that the man who didn’t do anything during the exam would pass as a bougen. And, as for Shuurei…
“Aah, I passed. With this result, I’ve fulfilled the promise I made to my three elder brothers. Speak of it, our names came out in line.. It must be a solid proof that we are indeed soul friends.”
Shuurei glared fiercely and grabbed the back of that flashy man.
“How come someone who did nothing but sleep, eat, and playing flute is able to pass as a bougen!? ….don’t you underestimate this world, you peacock!!”
Her scream reflected what the other participants currently had in their mind.
It was on a day in the end of winter. The shinshi ceremony, on which Ryuuren had fleed right before the day, hasn’t yet to start.
*******************