The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

you haven't grown too fond of Jinjuu Manor."
    Taiki couldn't avoid the fact that his face had flushed with delight. He would be right in the Seiden with Gyousou. That close. The Imperial Palace was so large that he normally couldn't say two words to Gyousou without taking a long hike. He'd always found it a disagreeable chore.
    "But now it'll be a long way to your Provincial Offices in Koutoku Manor."
    "That's fine with me. It won't be a problem if I hurry."
    "Even hurrying, you still might not get there on time."
    "Then I can run."
    "That'd be an awful bother, day after day."
    "It's okay. Besides, it'll be good for my health. I'm a growing boy, after all. This way I'll grow up even faster. Besides—"
    Gyousou grinned. "You still don't like riding in a palanquin."
    Taiki replied with a small nod. He just couldn't get used to the things. He felt he should be constantly apologizing to the people carrying him around on their shoulders. He could never relax in one.
    "In any case, you'll become Tansui's pupil."
    "Tansui's?"
    "There's a colt waiting for you as well. Tansui will be your instructor."
    "Really?" Taiki jumped up and down. "You mean, I get to ride a horse?"
    "That's right. You've already mastered riding kijuu, but flying kijuu around the Inner Palace has long been against the rules. And you're a bit small to be handling a kijuu all by yourself. I suppose you could travel in a palanquin atop a horse as you did on your journey, but that seems a bit silly, now, doesn't it?"
    Taiki was too delighted for words.
    "You did a good job putting up with all that travel."
    "It wasn't that bad. Really. And there were so many fun things to do. Is it really okay for you to reward me like this?"
    Of course it is, Gyousou's smile said. He headed up to the second floor. There was a warm, brightly-lit room enclosed with glazed paneled doors. The whole expanse of the gardens was visible from the room.
    "This isn't all on your behalf alone. I wished to have you closer as well."
    Taiki's eyes opened wide. In that moment, he couldn't help feeling he'd imposed himself on Gyousou. He'd been so lonely that Gyousou had gone to such lengths to show he cared about him.
    "But—" He didn't want to appear ungrateful. And yet that Gyousou had thought it necessary to express his concern with so grand a gesture weight on his mind.
    He was searching for the right words to express how he felt when Gyousou smiled wryly. "I'm not one for letting things work themselves out on their own."
    Gyousou found a chair, settled into it, and motioned to the one next to it. Taiki quietly sat down. Gyousou said, "There are those of us who prefer to strike when the iron is hot. It is not necessarily a vice. But riding with a loose reign has never been a strong point. So I think it best that I see more of you."
    "Me?"
    "Like when you first came to Hakkei Palace and couldn't go five minutes without wanting to know what that was or what this did—somebody to talk to on a regular basis. Some ballast to keep me on an even keel. Somebody to take the kettle off the fire when it's boiling over. Else I'm liable to go firing ministers right and left and otherwise getting ahead of myself."
    Taiki looked up at Gyousou, unable to hide the flabbergasted expression on his face.
    "What?"
    Taiki shook his head.
    "At any rate, we're going to kick back and relax while you catch me up to date on all your adventures. Gashin says that I've been so on edge of late that I'm scary to be around and pretty unapproachable."
    "Gashin of the Zui Provincial Guard?" He'd previously been one of Gyousou's generals. Now he commanded the Zui Provincial Guard of the Right.
    "He said being around me was like spending time with a hungry tiger."
    Gyousou smiled wryly and Taiki grinned despite himself. Somehow or another, he had the feeling that this was exactly the case. He was Gyousou's watcher, and it was his job to make sure that the tiger got fed.
    "Then I'll do my best to make sure that Gyousou-sama's stomach is always full."
    "I'd appreciate it," Gyousou laughed. He suddenly raised his hand. "Ah, look at what else you brought back from Ren—"
    "Eh?"
    "Spring."
    Taiki looked at where Gyousou was pointing. There was a big plum tree overhanging the balustrade just outside the window. Two small white flowers were blooming on the branch closest to them.
    Tai's long winter was finally drawing to a close.

Jougetsu
    he man stood beneath the symbol of Imperial power. "Any government that indulges