Firefly

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Annnd here we are!

This is the fifth installment of Flower of Winter. You can find my previous translations here.

Big shout out to @abrownfeminist​ who always makes my translations sound 500% better than when I spew them out on paper.

As always: MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THE END OF THE SAIUNKOKU MONOGATARI LIGHT NOVELS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. \nThis is a huuuugggeee section, so let`s jump into it!

                                                                  <b>Firefly</b>

Alongside

the river that ran through Ran Province, a crow was perched on a tree. Perhaps

it was a trick of the light, but his eyes appeared almost purple. From above,

he heard the gossip of the people coming and going from the marketplace.

“It seems

that His Majesty Ryuuki has not been seen for over a year…”

“His

condition is bad, so Prince Riou has been acting in his stead…but I`m still

worried.”

“When he was

still young, His Majesty provided great assistance to our Ran Province to help

with the damage from the great flood.”

“It seems

that Prime Minister Li cleanses His Majesty`s body every day, praying for his

recovery.”

“No,

according the rumors, Prime Minister Li and Prince Riou hold the real power,

and they`ve imprisoned his majesty…”

The crow`s

mysterious eyes followed the figure of one person pushing their way through the

crowd of people.

<hr>Chouka

pushed back the hood from her eyes. She felt eyes gazing in her direction, but

what they were staring at was not Chouka, but rather the small duck she was

leading on a leash. It was a rare indigo duck she had caught with her father in

Kyuusaikou.

They had

caught three ducks with the intent to sell them, but eventually they had got

hungry. So with her father….and also with the escort, they had divided two of

ducks amongst themselves. The single remaining duck had looked at Chouka in

fear.

“This is the

first time I`ve seen someone turn indigo ducks into grilled meat and eat it”,

the escort muttered. They were scolded later by Shuuei-oji and Seiran-oji who

had been absent at time. They had been unaware that they could exchange a

single live one for a hundred gold. The Ran Clan required a hunting permit for

the ducks.

(…Kyuusaikou….I want to go there

again…I wonder why pandas are so black and white…)

Chouka`s

gaze dropped to her hands. The salt water in Ran Province had dried her black

hair, and her skin was sunburned. In the palace, she had been like a smooth

white egg. Now, her outer shell had been cracked. However, the fact that she

couldn`t play the erhu well hadn`t changed much.

Her father

was also covered in a thin layer of grime like her, but his physical features

had also slightly changed. It was as if he was a stone worn down by the

wind.  However, his mysterious impression

was the same, his gaze was both strong and kind. He wouldn`t even chase after a

thief that took his wallet. Chouka followed his lead and did not chase them as

well, but when his medicine bag was taken, she chased after them with all her

might and caught them.

Facing the

direction of a large ship on the river, Chouka raised her head and looked at

the blue sky of her first summer in Ran Province.

A year and a

half had passed since the winter she had left the palace with her father.

Touring Shi Province, they had visited the graves of her mother`s parents,

Shouka and Shokun, and Riou`s grandfather, Ou Ki.

In the

summer, they went to Sa Province where seventeen year old Shuurei had been

governor. In autumn, they went to Kou Province, where eighteen year old Shuurei

had rushed to as a Censorate official in order to deal with the locust

situation…

When he was

young, Kouyuu oji-sama had traveled by foot to Mount Kou for her father`s sake.

When he crossed the mountain and entered Haku Province, he had a terrible

experience due to the snow.

“Kouyuu

crossed the mountain with the elderly Ryo-jiisan, so they had a hard time”,

Ryuuki complained. Their escort and her two oji-sans taught them, and every day

they made medicine to treat frostbite.

Around that

time, Ryuuki also spoke of the time when he had left the capital. The stories

he hadn`t told while they were in the palace, he would sometimes tell her. When

she was a child, Chouka had been fascinated by the stories from regional

officials, but she loved her father`s tales the best.

Chouka

traveled together with her father, walking in the footprints left behind on the

path her mother had walked during her youth.

“I was

different from Shuurei who walked all over the country, I was pretty useless”,

her father would often say, but he was surprisingly knowledgeable about the

areas to which they traveled. Her mother, who had been called `The Emperor`s

Eyes`, had told the Emperor tales of her journeys every time she returned.  

From

listening carefully to the stories told by Censorate officials who traveled the

country, Shuuei-oji and Seiran-oji who had been sent to different regions, and

other subjects, Chouka also came to gradually understand. She had already walked

around the better part of the country with her father, and had observed many

districts and towns.

For Chouka,

this was no longer just a journey to find the black crow.

The southern

wind blew across the large river, the other side of the shore beyond sight. The

ship which she had come on with her father was setting sail for somewhere

unknown.

After

visiting graves and traveling to Kyuusaikou, Chouka and her father had gone to

see the various rivers and lakes that had flooded during the same period as the

locust outbreak. In response, the Vice Governor at that time, Kyou Bunchuo,

together with the Ran Clan, had constructed a grand canal, which even to this

day protects against flooding.

Although

they didn`t know anyone in this place, whenever her father would ask, people

would give directions, invite them to their homes, and offer their children as

escorts.

Haku Raien,

Kan Hishou, Ryu Shibi, Jyun Iku, Ouyou Gyoku, Rai Shunnshin…

They would

give Chouka food and expensive medicine, and then leave.

During this

year and a half spent following her father`s footsteps, little by little,

Chouka`s heart began to change.

Chouka wiped

her slightly sweaty brow with the back of her hand and peaked into the thirty

fourth medicine shop with a dark expression. She hadn`t noticed that she had

become separated from her escort some time ago, but when she saw that the

medicine shop didn`t have the necessary spirit herb, she became depressed.

The escort

had told her about her father`s medicine, as he was entrusted with a letter

from Kouyuu oji-san. When Chouka read it, she started boiling medicine day and

night. Even when her father first found her grinding the herbs in preparation,

he didn`t tell her to stop.

Chouka was

so lost in her thoughts that she was slow in realizing that she had been

targeted by some ill-bred men. A few of them were gradually approaching her

from behind. Chouka looked down at the indigo duck (which was worth a hundred

gold coins) on its leash in front of her. It seemed their objective was the duck.

How troublesome. She had been planning to use this duck to pay for medicine…

Then, her

eyes were suddenly drawn to a crow folding its black wings on the side of the

road. Strangely, no one else in the crowd of people seemed to see him. The dark

purple gaze of the crow seared Chouka.

Chouka`s

heart began pound in her chest.

The crow

suddenly turned his head away, but he was still there.

Chouka

pulled the indigo duck on leash, changing her course. When someone crossed

between her and the crow, he disappeared. However, when she searched she caught

sight of his jet-black tail in another location. Chouka pursued him.

Finally, the

crow stopped, perched on the eaves above a building. It was the thirty fifth

medicine shop.

Chouka`s

eyes landed on the bouquets of flowers lined up at the store front. When she

pointed out some to the shopkeeper, someone from behind her paid the coins in

her stead.

“Chouka-sama.”

She detected

his fragrance in the air. Her escort had his hood pulled down over his eyes.

“…I`ve finally found you. I informed you that

I would make arrangements, as the herb you are searching for isn`t available in

this marketplace. I understand that you`re worried, but to wander around on

your own…”

Chouka

uneasily raised her face to look up at him, and he averted his gaze, troubled.

“…so…That

is, the arrangements have been completed. The medicine will be brought by

boat.”

Chouka was

finally relieved, and lowered her head, thanking him. When she attempted to pay

him back for the flowers, he refused.

“I`ll carry

those flowers.” he said, taking all of the flowers from Chouka`s arms.

When she

looked at the eaves of the building, there was not even a trace of the

beautiful crow left behind.

<hr>It was rare

for Shijaku-sama to pay for something. As they walked along the bank of the

river, Chouka looked at the bouquet of flowers in his arms. She reached out and

touched one of the blossoms. She hadn`t even seen him spend money when he was

flirting with women.

Just by him

appearing, when she and her father had been thrown into prison over the indigo

duck, they had been released. However, the most mysterious things was that

wherever he went the price of things would become cheaper. Whether it was at a

restaurant or an inn, if there was a woman the price would drop to basically

free. At first he was willing to pay, but about a month into their journey, he

stopped taking out his wallet. After half a year, it became a custom to float

his travel expenses.

“Chouka…we`ve

made a refined genius run away from home, huh?” her father had lamented.

“On this

absurd journey, I`ve learned about the cold wind of the world. You have to use

everything you can. Your Majesty and Princess met a pickpocket, and carelessly

entered an inn run by slave traders. First and foremost, would it even be

possible for you to receive gifts as I do for my appearance?” the genius cut

them down in a single stroke, striking a stone to make a fire. If Father hadn`t

stopped them, it might have become a bloody duel between Shuuei-oji, who had

drawn his sword, and Shijaku.

Chouka

wondered if he was an incarnation of a guardian deity, as everyone gave him

offerings. This bouquet… yes, it must be like how the guardian statues would occasionally

give a return gift.

Shijaku, who

was standing next to her, took off his cumbersome hood and spoke, clearly

annoyed.

“…Princess.

I`m not an incarnation of a guardian deity. I`m a human. Also, these flowers

are from me for Chouka-sama. I didn`t buy them with the intent to give them to

other women.”

It was

rather mysterious, and although Shijaku never outright stated it during this

year and a half, it seemed that he was able to read Chouka`s thoughts.

She wondered

how she should reply…She reached out and touched one of the flowers again.

“Thanks…”

He quickly

fell silent.

“By the way,

Princess, about the medicine…Those raw ingredients and the preparation of the

miraculous medicine…” When he saw the uneasy look in Chouka`s dark eyes, he

changed his mind. “…No, it might be best for you to be unaware of it. I don`t

particularly care either…”

The black

crow spread his wings and flew into the empty sky. Chouka tucked her hair

behind her eyes and watch him until he disappeared from sight.

Chouka scattered

the flowers along the seaside as she walked. It was something that her father

had done at Kyuusaikou. Chouka was unable to forget the sight of her father at

that time, and she had wanted to do it herself.

The irises

floated down the great river that lasted for an eternity.

Shijaku

watched the irises float away beside her, and looked up at the clear sky of Ran

Province. He uncharacteristically muttered to himself.

“I`d like to

show His Majesty parts of Ran Province other than Kyuusaikou…but I wonder if I

should make him do such an unreasonable thing.”

“What if you

try asking Father about it? Father…is quite weak against Shijaku-sama, I

believe. Spring two years ago…that was the first time I saw Father allow

someone else to accompany him on his nightly walks.”

“I`m sure

that tomorrow too I will be unable to speak with him. Until now I`ve asked to

speak with him a thousand times, and been refused all thousand times.”

“You must

have grown weary of seeing father`s face by now. Spending everyday with him for

a year and a half. Father certainly loves you.”

“….You`re

speaking a lot today, hm?”

“I want to

cheer you up. The reason why Shijaku-sama is following us, it is surely to be

by Father`s side. …The Ran Province which Shijaku-sama wants to show father, I

would also like to see it.”

He curtly

responded, a dark shadow falling over his expression. His voice was somewhat

faded.

“…….It`s

that I`m particularly here for only His Majesty`s sake. …but if His Majesty

were not here, I would not be in this kind of place.”

Chouka

turned to look at him. Chouka followed in her father`s footstep on their

journey, and when she would become lost in thought, Shijaku would come and

check on her. The reverse was also true. Over this past year and a half, they

had both thought carefully.

Realizing

that he had spoken his mind, he ran his fingers through his bangs, concealing

his face.

“…Chouka-sama,

do you plan to continue this journey forever? Nowadays, I don`t see that as the

case, but…”

After a gust

of wind had blown past them, Chouka, who seldom spoke, opened her mouth.

“Father…”

she murmured. “Although he is supposed to be vacationing, he does not appear to

be resting very much.”

She wondered

if her father truly slept. Late at night, she would suddenly realize that her

father had disappeared from the bonfire or inn. He would wander around with

Shuuei-oji or Seiran-oji. Every time, Chouka would become anxious.

Whether he

was on their journey, or he was in the palace, Chouka realized that it didn`t

make any difference. Since leaving the palace, Chouka had become an almost

different person, but her father hadn`t changed. Her father…

When they

tied up the small boat along the shore, her father had begun reading letters.

She had traveled with her father to various regions for over three hundred and

sixty five days, following her father in looking for the man with black hair.

Sometimes, she wondered until just when it was okay for her father`s journey to

continue.

She looked

up at the sky of Ran Province. The second summer to pass since leaving the

palace…

…Chouka-sama, do you plan to

continue this journey forever?

Chouka had

already decided where they would spend the third summer.

<hr>Ryuuki read

the letters from court on the shoreline where they had tied the small boat,

sighing. Kansho was nearby, as well as a crow which had just landed on the edge

of the small boat. Ryuuki and the crow both turned to face the same direction.

A trembling duck was being led by Chouka, and a young man who had inherited the

beauty of both of his parents were walking towards him.

Ran Shijaku.

Ryuuki, had

met him suddenly that spring night, and had recognized his identity

immediately. Enveloped in his father`s secret fragrance, Ryuuki had ultimately

given in to the cool young man. When he had first heard the name of Chouka`s

escort, he couldn`t believe that it was the same young man. He had smiled

bitterly.

(Above all else, to think that the

person Kouyuu chose was Shuuei`s eldest son…)

Shuuei and

Kouyuu, who in their youth who had seemed inescapably bound to one another,

with their endless bickering. It was nostalgic to think back on such times now.

The most

unbelievable of all was Chouka herself.

The

countless handsome suitors who had been presented to her in the inner palace…

(She doesn`t remember him…even

though I showed her his portrait. If I were him, I`d become a shut in.

Shouldn`t he be embarrassed for the sake of his honor …Yeah, when I think about

the past me and Shuurei my heart pointlessly hurts.)

It was a

relief that Shijaku, having noticed that she had forgotten his proposal and

kept quiet and evaded the subject.

But unlike

his father Shuuei, who spread his smile and love to the women of the world, the

son would resist the temptations of beautiful women curtly, unless he needed

something. In fact, he treated Chouka and Ryuuki respectfully, but he was not

overly friendly. That was his original personality. In other words, if it were

for Ryuuki and Chouka`s sake, he would do things he didn`t like calmly. He

would also be sure to pay for their stays at inns, as well as food and

clothing. Chouka had not noticed at all, but Shijaku had never given her

anything that had been gifted to him by women. (But he would pass Ryuuki meat buns and such that he received.)

…..His

willingness to do anything for his master certainly resembled Shuuei`s.

Ryuuki

smiled

That

fragrance suited him perfectly. For a long time he had refused to become a

governmental official. He would visit the court to offer New Year`s greetings

on behalf of the Ran Clan, and Ryuuki had heard that he was renowned for his

excellence in both literary and military arts.

As the waves

beat against the shore, Chouka and Shijaku continued towards him, side by side.

Ryuuki

worried, sometimes. Shijaku possessed some knowledge of the magical arts, and

would sometimes write talismans. For some reason, he would stick those

talismans on Ryuuki`s forehead. He would also fiercely fight the crow on the

roadside for some unknown reason. Chouka would also react strangely to the

crow, but as for Ryuuki, he would fuss over the possibility of Shijaku ruining

his beautiful face.

In any case, it appeared that there was no

“secret the two could no longer hide”. He looked at them carefully to see if

there were any signs today as well, but there was nothing to be found.

“Haaaa…”

Ryuuki looked at the crow beside him and sighed. “Seventeen and twenty one

years old. That`s a four year difference in age. Somehow, it seems that Shijaku

just isn`t Chouka`s type…If it were me, and Shuurei and I had spent every day

for a year and a half together, I`m sure we would have been married much

sooner.”

“Fool, don`t

talk in your sleep. The fact that you were rejected won`t change.”

Ryuuki

looked at the crow.

The crow

glanced sharply in Chouka and Shijaku`s direction, and then walked to the right

and left along the edge of the boat.

….No…just

now…he was certain he`d heard the voice of a haughty man making a caustic

remark…was he hearing things?

At that

moment, Shijaku approached him.

“Shall we

take a tour of some other places?” he offered. “Unless you are opposed to a

long stay in Ran Province…” he hesitantly added.

Ryuuki

listened to the rush of the great river which had not changed in a thousand

years. The irises that Chouka had thrown in the water came floating past from

far away. He had intended to set out, but with the scent of that fragrance

drifting in the air, he finally said, “Let`s do so.”

Shijaku

looked worried. Even when Ryuuki had refused to grant Shijaku`s desires, the

boy never seemed disappointed with him.

That struck

a chord with Ryuuki, although he didn`t know from where.

(…Where was it?)

While he was

folding the letters, he overheard their conversation.

“Chouka-sama,

Kyuusaikou and pandas….Ran Province, does it suit your tastes?”

Chouka

nodded, and he continued without hesitation.

“Then… would

you come to Ran Province someday again? With me…your poor erhu playing, even if

I listen to it every day, I won`t become tired of it.”

Ryuuki held

his breath, and the crow froze as well.

“Yes. After

many decades, please guide me around again.”

Ryuuki

dropped his letters at his daughter’s idiotic response.

It was no

good…It irritated him. It seemed that Chouka would become a crow`s bride after

all…

Ryuuki

looked over at the crow that might become his son-in-law, and saw that he was

preening his glossy back feathers.

“That`s

alright, after many decades, hmm. I`m looking forward to the day when you`ll

poorly play your erhu for me”, Shijaku continued, unruffled.

Without

thinking, Shijaku turned around and cold-heartedly glared at the crow. The crow

backed up a few paces. Ryuuki began picking up his fallen letters.

Shijaku was

not fazed in the slightest. He met the crow`s eyes and grinned.

“…If we put

him in a cage, the crow may come too of course.”

The crow

shook in fear.

It was

difficult to tell whether Shijaku was serious or joking. Shuuei`s blood

definitely flowed through his veins.

(But what was that…. “After many decades”???

I don`t understand you, daughter…)

As the sky

was dyed in the colors of the setting sun, Ran Shijaku and Chouka began to

prepare the boat.

The future

was there.

They pulled

out the sail. To somewhere. To where?

The two were

at a complete loss. They turned to Ryuuki. Ryuuki loved seeing them with such a

serious look on their faces. It wasn`t such a big problem after all. However,

Shijaku halted, waiting.

At that

time, Ryuuki wanted to be with them a little longer, doing anything was okay.

He wanted to watch over them wherever they went.

If such a

wish could come true…

The late

summer winds blew across the great river. Ryuuki decided to take a walk along

the shore. When he stood up, his legs were horribly unsteady.

Grabbing

Kansho, Ryuuki walked along the bank of the great river at dusk.

<hr>It was the

middle of the night. Ryuuki carefully snuck out of the mountain pass inn and

walked between the black trees.

Chouka and

Shijaku had come to him carrying medicinal herbs and forced him to take them.

“It will make you sleepy”, they had said, but he wasn`t sleepy. Ever since

Shuurei had left, that had not changed.

The

flickering light of countless summer fireflies twinkled throughout the dark

forest. When he emerged from the forest of fireflies, he was on the thirteenth

mountain range of Ran Province. The summer night sky stretched endlessly above

him. He tucked Kansho under his arm, crossing them, with both hands folded into

his sleeves. He stood there, amongst the starry sky.

…After a

moment, a familiar scent drifted towards his nose. Ryuuki smiled wryly.

Whenever he was alone, without fail, either Chouka or Shijaku would come

searching for him. It was strange. Since long ago, Ryuuki had always believed

that even if he disappeared, no one would searching for him.

“You`ll harm

your health”, Shijaku anxiously said from behind.

“Hmm”,

Ryuuki replied, lost in thought. Ryuuki noticed he had fallen silent, and

turned back to look at him.

“…What`s

wrong, Shijaku? Is there something troubling you?” he softly asked.

Shijaku

walked towards him, feet crushing the grass below. He bent on one knee.

Shijaku`s

expression was so bleak and heavy-hearted, that Ryuuki reached out and brushed

a finger along the young man`s temple.

“What`s

wrong?” he asked again.

Shijaku

lowered his eyes. “At Kyuusaikou…Your Majesty spoke of his past with my

father…”

“…carelessly.

When you`re around I end up talking about unnecessary things.”

“When I

heard that Your Majesty had come all the way to Ran Province just for my

father`s sake…”

That`s

right. During his youth when it had been painful to be on the throne, and he

had seen no other way out, he had shoved everything on to Yuushun, and headed

to Kyuusaikou with Shouka and Jyuusan-hime. He had chased after Shuuei who had

returned his flower and left Ryuuki of his own accord.

“It irritates and frustrates me….In truth, I

am confident that I`m more capable than Father.

“Hmm…I can`t

deny that.”

During their

journey, compared to Shuuei who would just say whatever came to his mind, this

young man had certainly demonstrated that he was dependable.

“If you’re

tired of being unemployed and accompanying Chouka and I on our wanderings, you

can go become an official somewhere. If it’s you, you’ll be in high demand.”

“I request

to be by Your Majesty`s side one thousand times.”

Ryuuki

didn`t smile.

“If you wish

for me to discard the Ran Clan`s name like father did at Kyuusaikou, I will throw

it away at any time.”

“…There`s no

need to do so. And although Shuuei was disowned, he remained a man of the Ran

Clan down to his bones. I liked that Shuuei. ….And the color indigo suits you

perfectly. Don`t throw it away.”

“Why am I

not good enough, but father…?”

“There is

nothing you are lacking. …it`s just it can`t be you.

First anger,

then frustration, and finally despair flashed in Shijaku`s eyes. Looking at his

expression, Ryuuki couldn`t help but have a sense of déjà vu. From somewhere, a

memory of those same emotions floated to the surface of his mind. From long

ago…

Gazing at

the dark mountains of Ran Province, Ryuuki heaved a sigh and repeated his same

answer.

“My only

attendants are Shuuei and Seiran. Just those two are fine. …Anyone else is

unnecessary.”

Thirty years

ago, while heading to Gojyougen to face Ou Ki, only Shuuei had been by his

side.  Even now, the orange dyed sunrise

spreading above the mountain range that morning was clear in his mind. The Ran

Shijaku before him now knelt in the same way Shuuei had. He could hear his

voice, from the distant, distant past.

Ran Shuuei will serve beside you, my

lord. Until the end….

Until the

end…

“While

others can offer their allegiance, the only one allowed to offer up their life

as well is Shuuei. No one before nor after, only your father. ….That…I have

regretted it many times. I still do.”

Amidst the

twinkling fireflies, he looked down at Shijaku kneeling before him. His eyes

showed his determination to offer his entire heart.

“…Shijaku,

the inner depths of your heart closely resemble Shuuei`s. So I can`t choose

you.

For the

master he had chosen, he would easily cast aside the Ran Clan and everything

else. Just like Shuuei.

But Ryuuki

no longer wished for such a thing. A firefly landed on Shijaku`s black hair. He

resembled Shuuei, but Ryuuki was fond of this oldest son who was different in

his own way. He didn`t want to lose him…

“Don`t throw

away anything for my sake. I already received Shuuei. That`s more than enough.

Choose another master who isn`t me, a better one. Even Riou is fine. The person

who can acquire you will be just as fortunate as I was to acquire Shuuei.

Besides, over the past year and a half you`ve gotten to know me pretty well.

You must be somewhat tired of me by now.”

He reached

out a finger and brushed the firefly from Shijaku`s hair. When he went to take

his hand back, the young man reached out and caught it.

“You`re the

one I want”, the summer breeze carried Shijaku`s whisper. “Your Majesty, I also

do not mean to replace my father. The position you gave my father, which you

decided to never give to anyone again…that place, I want it.  If you have been regretting it, I will

receive your sadness. If I can do so, than my actions shall not be in vain.”

“…”

“If you

refuse me a thousand times, I will ask you two thousand more.”

Shijaku

bowed his head, pressing Ryuuki`s cold hand against his forehead.

“No matter

how many times you refuse me, it`s alright. If it`s you, I can bear such a

thing. But please…don`t go anywhere. Until I reach the place my father has gone.

Not yet…”

At last,

Ryuuki remembered his desire to disappear. His memories flashed before his

eyes.

As the stars

fell from the summer night sky, the timbre of a koto that even Riou couldn`t

replicate resounded in his ears.

“Why am I not good enough?”

Those had

been his own words. He saw his past self before his eyes.

“Ou Ki, am I no good?”

Before

Gojyougen, after the mountain clan. Long, long ago, passing over the dark snowy

path, his youth when he had chased after the sound of Ou Ki`s koto. No matter

how many times he reached out his hand, the answer was the same. You`re no

good.

He had never

looked back until the end, taking no notice of Ryuuki. No matter how he was

treated, how he was not recognized, how deplorable, how miserable he was,

without giving up, Ryuuki had chased after him.

One day. One

day he would also join Ou Ki in the same place.

Without

noticing it, all of these years had passed.

If Ryuuki

thought back on it, he was now the same age Ou Ki had been during Gojyougen.

This young man that would follow him without fail whenever he wandered reminded

Ryuuki of his own self at that time. He hadn`t thought that Shuuei`s son would

wish to be by his side.

If Shuurei

were here, what kind of expression would she have? Ryuuki found himself

unexpectedly thinking about it.

Please…don`t go anywhere.

The breeze

fluttered through the trees. Ryuuki pulled his hand free from Shijaku`s and

laid it upon the young man`s hair. Shijaku had asked countless times to meet

with him, but Ryuuki had never intended to do so. Because he resembled Shuuei.

Kouyuu had known that, and yet he had chosen Shijaku…he wondered if his Prime

Minister had made the right choice.

For the past

year and a half, with that familiar fragrance nearby, he had enjoyed watching

Shijaku and Chouka. It was better than not meeting him until the end,

certainly.

“For showing

us around Ran Province, I express my gratitude. It was a good idea. You must be

tired. You can go back to the inn and rest. …After I think a while longer, I

will return as well”, Ryuuki said to the young man.

<hr>…Afterwards,

Ryuuki stood beneath the canopy of stars. Once again, that fragrance drifted in

the air. This time it was the father. Shuuei appeared from the forest, lantern

in hand.

“…are you

think of matters of court, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I`m

worried about Kouyuu. He hasn`t said anything, but…”

Shuuei

glanced at the sleeping Shijaku by the root of a tree. Ryuuki awkwardly

scratched his cheek.

“…my bad,

Shuuei. He looked like he wouldn`t return on his own, so I forced him to go to

sleep.”

“It would

have been better to just smack him. `I`m more capable than my father`, that

stupid brat. On top of that, you said such a foolish thing, that he could

surpass his father.”

“It seems

that your eldest son surpasses you in his love and respect towards me!”

“I`m

joking”, Shuuei grinned. Ryuuki couldn`t help but smile as well.

They stood

side by side, gazing at the mountain range of Ran Province, summer fireflies

twinkling around them.

“Your

birthplace is beautiful, Shuuei…”

“Yes. The

stars glitter in the sky, don`t they? It`s a place I`m very proud of, my

birthplace. I don`t wish you to come here only to visit a grave. …also, Shijaku

has been like that since long ago. His desire to meet you since he was a child

hasn`t changed.”

“…”

“Is my son

no good?”

“He`s no

good”, Ryuuki whispered.

Shuuei`s

smiled was bittersweet, as if he was a little happy.

Ryuuki

raised his face to look at the starry heavens above.

He had left

the palace a year and a half ago to search for the man who had filled his

thoughts. Wherever he went, it didn`t feel like the first time he had been

there. The path ahead of him was filled with footprints of those he knew.

“…returning

to my side, the gifts I received were the stories about the journeys.”

“That`s

because Shuurei-dono was your eyes.”

“No, what I

came to see is the world after Shuurei left.”

Shuuei

turned his eyes towards Ryuuki next him.

“After I

lost Shuurei, you guys went across the country and let me hear your stories.”

He pictured the times when Shuuei and Seiran

had led the military in Ryuuki`s stead across the country and the times when

Kouyuu had gone to various regions. The figures of Rou Ensei and Shin Suo who

had walked in the footprints left behind by Shuurei, and the figures of all the

vassals and government officials who had supported him flashed before his eyes.

Since he had

been enthroned at eighteen years old, over thirty years had already passed.

Since the

time Shuurei, like a comet falling from the sky, had entered her eternal

slumber on that snowy day, seventeen years had come and gone.

The lantern

swayed.

Different

from his father Senka and Shuurei, he had been thrown on this path that had

already been carved.

Sa Enjun,

Sou Shungai, and Kai Yu were gone…Yushunn, Ou Ki, and Ryou Anju had left as

well. Shuurei, without waiting for the coming of spring, and fallen asleep

before his eyes. After that, he had watched Shouka`s eyes close to the sound of

Chouka`s erhu.  Chouka had sat at

Ryuuki`s side, playing her erhu until the strings broke, three times until now.

Why he had

continued to live and keep walking, it was a mystery even to Ryuuki.

What`s your reason for living?

Long ago, Ou

Ki had told him to think of it by himself

What is it you truly want to do…

“I didn`t do

a very good job. I`m not supreme ruler like my father Senka, I can`t see the

country`s future like Ruka, and my loyalty and love for this country pale in

comparison to Ou Ki and Shuurei`s. But despite my shortcomings, I was blessed

with you vassals. More than to me, you gave your all for this country. That

much I understand.”

The endless

conflict in the north, which had been plagued with starvation and looting, had

finally been brought to a close by Haku and Koku Province. Sa Province, which

had no resources, had worked together with the Hyou Clan to assemble scholars

from all of the country. In Ran Province, Ou Ki had stopped the custom of

sacrificing people to the waters when sailing in dangerous places by

substituting people with manjuu. Even when the locusts hatched in Kou Province,

the problem was sorted out in a short time.

“Your

Majesty…saying you didn`t do a good job? I`ll get angry.

“…No, if I

was on the throne, I always wanted to do that.”

Shuuei`s

lantern rattled in wind.

“When I

think about what I could have done without losing anything if I wasn`t the

emperor, I wanted to do that.”

Shuuei`s

voice came from beyond the fireflies. “Yes. I know that.”

That`s

right, Shuuei who had always been behind him must have noticed it. From when

was it, that he saw Ryuuki change in front of his eyes into someone who

staggered and struggled to drag his heavy legs.

His father

Senka, Ruka, and Ou Ki, who had been as strong as steel. No matter how he had

struggled against his own weakness, he had been unable to obtain their

strength. Time had come to a stop in his faded world.

“…If you are

tired, I will come running and take you away. I`ve already told you this.”

“I`ll ask

you soon.”

“Is that so?

You always say that”, Shuuei turned towards Ryuuki, lantern in hand. “That`s

right, even though I told you that, you`ve kept walking. Even when you want to

collapse, when you think you can`t go on. Even in this world without

Shuurei-dono, you came this far…my master.”

Shuuei

placed his hand on his chest. The lantern shone like the stars above.

“…I was

happy. Even when your beloved died, you remained here. Although you definitely

didn`t want to do so, you kept living, you remained emperor…You continued

walking. We were so happy. Because we wanted to serve by your side for a long

time.”

Behind

Shuuei`s back, the country spread out, the night sky lit with stars and

fireflies. The lantern twinkled in the darkness.

“This is

your country, my lord…Because it was you, we were constantly running around.

Someone who hates war and couldn’t accept loss calmly, we wanted to live for

the sake of you who are so kind. …My lord, both Seiran and I know…. your reason

for living.”

“…….”

Shuuei

offered his hand without the lantern. Ryuuki looked at the kind, inviting hand.

During painful times, just as Shuuei had promised, he always offered his hand.

Every time he did so, Ryuuki wanted to release Kansho and rest. …Now as well.

A sound rang

out from the thicket behind him. The fireflies danced wildly in the forest.

Someone else had decided to come wandering here as well. It seemed that Chouka

had come searching for him this time.

Ryuuki turned

his gaze towards the Ryuuga mountain range, and furrowed his brow.

“…Since the

year before last the weather has been bad. The cold summers and poor harvests

have continued. It`s worrying.”

Ryuuki

didn`t notice the half amazed, half proud expression on Shuuei`s face, nor that

Shuuei had retracted his hand.

“…hey, Your

Majesty. Over this year and a half, at Chouka-sama and Shijaku`s destination,

the person whose figure will be reflected in your eyes will be different, I

think. Not Shuurei-dono, nor us…”

“Hmm. It`s

the old man Chouka is looking for, isn`t it. What should I do? You don`t

support Shijaku?”

“Not an old

man. By the way, I`m annoyed at my oldest son. To be able to wake up next to

such a beautiful young woman for a year and a half and not do anything about

it, what an idiot. I can`t even believe that he`s my own blood!!”

“That`s

true. His face is much more stylish compared to yours, but he`s very old

fashioned. Even when I go to the trouble of leaving them alone, instead of

sneaking into her room for a tryst, he follows after me. He really doesn`t

resemble you in the slightest.”

“…no,

w..wait. He`s my real child that I had with my wife…definitely…”

“Hmmmn….your

wife went to Shouka`s place pretty often to clean and do other things….”

“Your

Majesty, please stop!! Don`t make up stories about him being someone else`s

child! Weren`t you just talking a moment ago about how much he resembles me?!”

Ryuuki

chuckled. Just like the roots give foundation to a tree, Shuuei had given his

eyes to the son who was currently sleeping.

“Your

Majesty, what Shijaku was speaking of, you are aware of it.”

The person whom a Ran would bend

their knee for, does such a person exist….?

The words

that Ran Shuuei had once self-indulgently said, were the same as his son who

refused to become an official anywhere.

“…Unlike me

at that time, Shijaku has already chosen. For myself, it was not Emperor Senka,

Princess Ruka, or Ou Ki-dono, I chose only you. My son is the same, because you

are so kind.”

“He resembles

you, so I can`t treat him coldly…why me? I was called a stupid emperor.”

Shuuei

laughed. Ryuuki had taken only one wife, and said he didn`t need anyone other

than Shuuei and Seiran. Whenever something happened on the journey, without

getting angry, he would forgive others. That had touched Shijaku`s heart.

Walking alongside that emperor, and seeing the country he had built, how could

Shijaku give up? How could he not wish to become this emperor`s heart? This was

the path that Shi Ryuuki had walked, covered in wounds and countless losses.

For such a long time…

Ryuuki

looked at the sleeping Shijaku, and then looked in Chouka`s direction.

Chouka

pushed her way through the fireflies, searching in random directions. She was

visible by Seiran`s light, as he leisurely followed behind her with his

lantern. When he went wandering with Shuuei or Seiran, Chouka would often wake

up and come after him.

Chouka had

changed so much since leaving the palace. She had chased after and caught a

pickpocket, and whenever she found lodging with an acquaintance from various

provinces, she would receive a lot of medicine and return. Sometimes, whenever

she was feeling anxious, she would play the erhu by herself. The most

surprising change of all was that she had begun preparations to take the

national exams.

Standing

beside Shuuei, Ryuuki tilted his head, watching Chouka, who was lost in the

forest of fireflies.

“She

suddenly took the regional exam. All she said was `I took it.` She didn`t

looked very happy about it, so maybe she ranked poorly…I wonder why she

suddenly wanted to take it all of a sudden…”

“…Your

Majesty, actually, I was uncertain before, but I finally understand the reason she was so adamant about not

taking the national exam until now.  .”

“Huh? I

don`t understand. It`s like what Ran Ryuuren said in the past. `I have no

intention of becoming an official, but I guess I`ll take the exams`. If Shuurei

were alive, she`d probably start lecturing.”

The current

national exams were only held once every three years, so the pool of exam

takers was filled with proficient students who had prepared carefully for it.

Despite having no desire to become an official, she had heartlessly stolen the

opportunity from one of those students and despite possibly doing poorly, had progressed

to the second stage of the exam. Moreover, he had never seen her studying. She

was truly doing things in a Ryuuren like manner.

“Urgh…Ryu…Ryuuren`s

behavior, I truly apologize for i….No, never mind that. Like I was saying,

Chouka-sama doesn`t have any desire to become an official. However, over the

year and a half, she has discovered something different she wants to do.”

Shuuei cryptically said. “Also, Chouka-sama is studying. She`s always reciting

the Four Books and Five Classics on the road, to myself, Seiran, Shijaku,

mushrooms, road signs, and the crow she had once caught.”

“No…the

latter half of that…my daughter is very strange…isn`t she…”

“Well…if she

becomes a new official, she must spend many years in a regional position….She

wanted to know more about other things, so she didn`t take the exam. She spent

fifteen years inside the palace after all. She`s the same as my son who

stubbornly refuses to consider entering into another`s service. Do you

understand?”

“Not at all.

But if I think about it, since leaving the palace, Chouka`s night time walks

have stopped.”

From long

ago, she had wandered around at night. But over the course of this year and

half, she had slept quite well, other than the times like tonight when she

awoke like clockwork and came searching for Ryuuki. Ryuuki was the same as

always, however, taking walks lost in thought.

Perhaps

leaving the palace had been good for Chouka.

Chouka

finally realized his whereabouts, and emerged from the forest with a rustling

sound, surrounded by fireflies. Behind her, Seiran leaned against a tree,

lantern in hand.

Chouka

looked at Shuuei, Seiran and the sleeping Shijaku and seemed relieved.

“Father, why

do you not rest?” she whispered, continuing on. “…in the afternoon as well, you

were reading letters with the official seal.”

“Ah. It

seems that Riou is troubled over a decision, so I was thinking of my reply…”

Chouka fell

silent.

Ryuuki

thought of that winter night when his Prime Minster had seen him off, bowing

deeply on his knees. No matter how many months passed, Kouyuu`s voice resounded

in his ears.

I`ll be waiting for your return, my

lord…

“…Father, I

have been considering it for some while. I am returning to the imperial court.”

Ryuuki

raised his eyebrows at his daughter`s abrupt announcement.

“You are?

Alone? What will you do when you return? You wanted to leave the palace, didn`t

you?”

“Yes. At

that time, I did. However, now there is something I want to do in the palace. I

can search for that person again, but this I can only do at this time.”

“Something

you can only do now, in the palace? What?”

“…..”

Chouka fell

silent. Her expression was the same as it had been that snowy night she had run

from the inner palace. An expression that said that her heart had already decided.

From

somewhere, he heard the sound of a bird`s wings. It must be the crow, Ryuuki

thought. If he thought about it, since the time the crow disappeared from the

silver cage, Chouka had never said `I want to keep it` again.

Chouka`s

mysterious old man who hadn`t been found, and the face of Ryuuki`s missing

person blended together. It was mysterious, but when he was with Chouka, his

memories which had been buried so deeply in his mind floated to the surface for

just a moment.

The man he

was searching for, and the person Chouka was chasing after…

Ryuuki

embraced that idea.

“Because I have never seen that

person look happy.”

For just

that reason alone, Chouka had decided to leave the palace.

She looked

like she would speak, but kept silent instead. The one who spoke this night was

Ryuuki.

“…Chouka.

I`ve been thinking about the strange old man you`re searching for. I might know

his whereabouts. Even if you search all over the country, it`s probably

useless. If there`s a possibility to meet him, there`s only one place. Do you

want to hear it?

Chouka

raised her head. When she was fifteen years old, she had chosen her life path

for the first time.

“Will you do

anything for that man`s sake? Even if it means a life of suffering, are you

prepared to take that man`s hand? Even if you spend your entire lifetime, your

wish may never be granted. Even so, do you want to meet him?”

Just like

when she was fifteen years old, the seventeen year old Chouka did not

immediately reply.

In the

twinkling light of the fireflies, Chouka turned and gazed at the country below.

Her gaze was more profound than it had been a year and a half ago.  She was different from the girl in the palace

who had only looked towards the sky searching for the crow.

“…It`s okay

if you don`t speak. No matter where it is, you won`t be able to go meet him

immediately.”

I want to meet him.

It resonated

in Ryuuki`s ears. It was all the stronger for not being put into words.

One day his

wish would be granted.

But that

would be after he had finished sorting out the situation in front of him. For

some reason, it seemed that Chouka had some important business left in the

palace. As for his own?

I`ll be waiting for your return, my

lord…

Kansho felt

hot in Ryuuki`s hand.

He raised

his face to gaze upon the starry sky of Ran Province. A cool breeze blew.

Behind him,

without a sound, Shuuei and Seiran knelt down. Chouka stiffened, countless

fireflies flying in the air. The two lanterns held at Shuuei and Seiran`s feet

flickered.

“Then I

shall return as well. Shuuei, Seiran…accompany me.”

His two

attendants deeply bowed their heads.

“….though

there might not be much time left,” Shuuei added.

“I know”,

Ryuuki nodded.

“You are in

the middle of a vacation”, Chouka quickly protested beside him, in a small

voice.

Ryuuki

shrugged his shoulders. “I decided to do so until you returned. Long ago, when

I ran away from the palace, Shouka accompanied me Kyuusaikou, so I decided to

do the same thing. But you are completely different from me; you don`t lose

heart. I also can`t allow Shijaku to continue to be unemployed forever. He`ll

become just like how Shuuei was in the past. ….What, did you actually believe

that I was wandering around to visit my acquaintance?”

Looking at

her face, it seemed that she hadn`t considered that his intention from the

start was to protect his daughter.

His two

attendants snickered on their knees. Ryuuki looked angry, but then a wry smile

leaked through.

“…Besides, I

also want to return soon.”

His long,

long vacation. Traveling around the country, searching for the man with no

face.

Long ago, he

had wanted to meet that man and ask him something. If it was now, perhaps he

might receive an answer.

It was the

seventeenth year since Shuurei had died.

What`s your reason for living?

Shuuei and

Seiran raised their faces. While wanting to run away countless times, he

continued to sit on the throne for over thirty years. The reason he had turned

back every time, today as well, he gave voice to it.

<b>There`s nothing else I can do.</b>

It was neither

a noble nor grand reason. Just like his reason for leaving the palace to search

for the man with no face.

“There`s

nothing else I can do, for some reason I really want to see Kouyuu`s face…”

In the

heavens above, a single star fell from the sky. It was almost as if he could

hear it`s descent. As if he were in a dream, the fireflies soared wildly in the

air. Ryuuki walked past the space between the kneeling Shuuei and Seiran.

During this

journey over the past year and a half, Ryuuki had seen a star fall from the sky

five times.

Each time he

heard that voice.

I`ll be waiting for your return, my

lord…

<hr>…high in a

tree above, the purple eyed crow gazed at the black mountain range of Ran

Province from the now empty forest of fireflies. Ironically, he felt hollow.

The country

that, no matter how much they had seen, they would never know, even now he saw

before his eyes. He saw the ravages of war, the burning fields, and heard the

thundering sound of the hooves of soldiers` horses. This bleak world, where the

lives taken by numerous emperors had become a mountain of skeletons. It had

repeated for a thousand years. Even the current peace was nothing but a

fleeting dream.

As he

scornfully laughed, he heard the odd sound of an erhu. He thoughtlessly

returned through the firefly forest. When he was near that girl, the faded

world came into view. He walked along a branch and extended his neck towards

the inn.

It wasn`t

clear just how the princess saw him. He should appear as a crow to her, but she

had mentioned something stupid like seeing him tottering along…maybe she saw

him as an elderly man….

He had

erased all of the memories of him from those of the previous emperor Senka`s

time, and Sou Shungai had passed on. There was no one left in this world who

remembered him. And yet, that princess had found him countless times.

I am returning to the imperial

court….

He did

something out of character. He moved off of the branch, and landed beside the

girl playing her erhu alone in her room, folding his wings. The princess looked

surprised, but continued to move the bow across the strings.

The timbre

of the erhu petered out. After a moment, she quietly lifted him up and held him

to her chest.

The girl`s

hands were covered in scratches from her journey. She caressed his wings,

feathers, and stomach. The girl was warm, but he was cold. It was almost as if

he was stealing the warmth of her body. She shivered and trembled, but refused

to let him go.

When the

moon had sunk in the sky, her hand stopped. The crow opened his eyes. Thanks to

her body, even the tips of his feathers felt warm. It…. wasn`t a bad feeling….

The girl

lifted him with both of her scratched hands and pressed a kiss to his feathers.

As if she

were trying to warm his frozen heart itself.

The crow

raised his eyes to her, as if in question.

“…When I

have finished that which I must do, I will come searching for you again. At

that time, please listen to my erhu once more….no matter how many decades

pass…” Chouka set him down on the bed, saying her farewells for their long

separation.

Her eyes

showed that she had decided not to look back.

…For over a

thousand years, he had not had a person by his side who possessed such eyes.

<hr><b>TRANSLATION NOTES</b>

Kyuusaikou= Nine Colored Cove, the location they go in the second season of the anime.I`m pretty sure that spirit herb is a made up thing.Chouka speaks a bit more casually to Shijaku. Whether that is just because the only other person we`ve really heard her speak to is her father, I don`t knowFor those of you that didn`t pick it up, Shuuei`s wife is Shusui. That`s why Shijaku has knowledge of the magical arts, and why Ryuuki jokes that Shijaku`s father could be ShoukaEvertyhing that`s vague in this chapter is even more ambigious in the original text. There are some sections were I just went with my gut. I may change them later, if neededChouka think`s Shijaku is like a `guardian spirit`, which is this:<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="2448" data-orig-width="3264"></figure>There`s a fairy tale in Japan about an old couple that put clothes on the statues and received a gift in return. That`s what Chouka is refferencing here. (Shout out to Google)There`s probably more but I`ve formating this for almost an hour now and I`d like to not be doing that. So, please let me know if there`s anything you don`t get!!<b>WHALIN THOUGHTS</b>

It`s okay, we`re all confused *pats readers head*

I really like the dynamitc between Shijaku and Chouka, but that`s the eternal shipper in me a suppose.

Chouka ain`t got time for no man, she`s got shit to do in the palace. (Also she`s kind of in love with a bird so that`s complicated)

We`re almost to the end now, just a few more chapters left to go. \n