From vol 12


The Secretary of the Military, Son Ryouou, had come to visit his longtime friend, pipe in hand.
“Ou Ki, I’m coming in.”

Creases appeared between the brows of Ou Ki, who was still working in his room, although over half the night had passed.

“…Ryouou, don’t wander around. You’re not supposed to be in Kiyou now.”
“Just as some-one told me to. So I shouldn’t be here either.”

Son Ryouou, grinning, sat down-cross legged next to Ou Ki’s desk, where he was reading some documents. Above, through the window, a crescent moon loomed. With the elegant window frame, it looked almost like a painting.

“I like to look at the moon from here. In spring, cherry blossoms, in summer, fireflies, in autumn, changing leaves, in winter, snow, they say. What I wish for is to die under the flowers in the spring. In life, if I have flowers, good wine, beautiful women, and then fine tobacco, that’s enough.”
“Huh… You’ve always been like that.”

With a small smile, Ou Ki opened a drawer, took out the box of cut tobacco he kept there for his friend, and tossed it to him.
Son Ryouou happily accepted it with a practiced gesture, and while gazing at Ou Ki’s profile, began to pack some tobacco into his pipe.

“And so, that’s why I don’t need anything like the status of Military Secretary either. Use me as you wish. From before, for your sake, I stayed in the court, even as a civil official, something which doesn’t suit me.”

Ou Ki turned towards him, and through the purple smoke, which was beginning to waft through the air, Son Ryouou smiled. Unlike in the past, there were now small wrinkles in the corners of his eyes. Ou Ki began to feel the sense of the passage of the years. As if Son Ryouou was thinking the same thing, still gazing at Ou Ki, he tilted his head slightly.

“Come to think of it, we’ve passed fifty years together. Ou Ki. Time flies, doesn’t. You’ve got grandchildren too.”
“What’s this, are you nostalgic for your teens?”
“By no means!”

Son Ryouou burst out laughing at this.

“Of all times, now is the high point of life. That is, in spite of my principles, something to enjoy. I can’t help enjoying getting older. Because a guy like me will as the years go by become cooler and become the ultimate kick-ass older guy~ ”

Ou Ki sighed as if exasperated, but said nothing.
The purple smoke floated in the air, and filled the room, along with silence.
Son Ryouou was not an especially taciturn man, but only when Ou Ki was with him did he enjoy quiet time. When he was with Ryouou, Ou Ki also lost track of time. Perhaps one could say that it was relaxing.

“However when did you start to have wrinkles between your eyes? It’s definitely thanks to your influence that Ki Kouki has such a sour face, despite his youth. That’s why Ryou Anju’s true face as well, more than a smile, is really that as well.”

Those were the two who singlemindedly aimed to succeed Ou Ki. And there was a third person.
(Tei Yuushun has returned.)

The day that each of those three had become high officials had come. Like it or not, fate had begun to move.
The first target was Ran Shuuei. The next was–

“What do you want? Ou Ki.”

Quickly, Ou Ki raised one eyebrow dubiously, as if asking, what are you saying?
Son Ryouou grinned, and with his pipe still in his mouth, roughly smoothed back some of the hair that had become loose with his fingertips.

“Before that, shall I tell you my wish, Ou Ki? To have a bowl of Kachoufuugetsu [I think this is the type of whatever they’re smoking. Flower-bird-wind-moon goes the kanji.] beside you like this.”
“….Really, only one bowl then. You said that you would cut back a little.”

Ou Ki took the pipe from Ryouou’s hand, and stopped him from having a second bowl. Ryouou didn’t complain, but rather seemed to be happy that Ou Ki was meddling, and docilely let it go. Still smiling, he continued smoothly.

“Later, if you become king, I’ll be happy.”
“…Ryouou.”
“If you desire the throne, then do it. In fact, you are far more cut out for it than that youngster. With your bloodline, Uu Uu-dono and the Hyou clan will accept it. That kid resembles his highness the previous king too much. ”

With a last sigh, Ou Ki faintly responded. Ryouou scratched his cheekbone and gazed at the moon above.

“A king who rules for the sake of a woman, will eventually ruin the country for the sake of a woman. Maybe it’s in their blood, loving one person too much. Personally, I don’t dislike that, but the king’s number one priority can’t be a woman. When Shou Taishi sent that woman into the inner palace, you protested until the last. And things happened just as you expected them to.”

Ou Ki remained silent, and emptied the ashes from the pipe with a tap, and packed in new tobacco. He lit it, and lightly put it into his mouth. His personality was such that at any time, he would be unperturbed, so he slowly smoked the pipe. Ryouou liked to watch his noble gestures, elegant in every point, so different from his own.

After awhile, Ou Ki exhaled some smoke, along with a sigh, as if finding something stupid.

“….Do you think that I’m still like I was in the past? How long do you think it’s been?”
Ou Ki, just as he had long ago, glanced calmly, coldly, at the cloud of smoke.

“I will tell you what I want, Ryouou.”

The sight of his figure, folding his arms, standing cleanly straight up without wavering, was a familiar one to Son Ryouou. Whether they won, or lost, it was always the same. Even when he was up against the previous king, he did not take a step back. That king had already passed on. Sa Enjun had also departed, and the previous generation of talented officials had begun to remove themselves from active service.

“The throne.”

He unhesitatingly pronounced this single word. Ryouou smiled.

“….If that’s what you want, go for it. I’ll go anywhere with you, friend.”

Ou Ki flashed a smile back. This was an expression he showed only to his old friend, with whom he had shared the joys and sorrows of life.

“…Don’t regret it, Ryouou. Of course, even if you had doubts, I still intended to have you stay with me until the last. ”
“What thrilling words. Is this a confession of love? Ahahaah, you’re getting angry. —As you wish. ”

Ou Ki took out the pipe. Just like long before, there were wrinkles between his eyes, as if he did not find it very satisfying. While grinning at this, Ryouou threw some almond candies at him in exchange for the return of the pipe.