The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

from her own.
    "You really have grown up."

Chapter 50
    E arly one morning at the beginning of autumn, Risai and Taiki took their leave of the Taishi's manor.
    After discussing it at length together, they had decided not to raise the subject with the Royal Kei. If they did, she would undoubtedly blame herself or the incident with the Naisai. And even if they could have managed to convince her otherwise, they would have put her in a difficult position.
    In any case, keeping them here was akin to taking the burdens of Tai upon her own head, just as telling them to leave would seem like casting Tai aside. Risai didn't doubt that the young Empress would see things exactly in this light.
    Besides, Risai sighed in her heart, if such an Empress as Youko wished her to stay, she was not sure she could refuse her. Even now, Risai could not extricate the thought from her mind that she was acting with unpardonable incivility. Yet she understood Taiki's reasoning for returning to Tai and agreed with it.
    There was no doubt in her mind that she must return to Tai with him, just as she was certain that Taiki was a symbol of hope that Tai could not afford to lose. Except that she had no confidence in her abilities to protect him. Unimaginable dangers awaited them. If she could somehow dissuade him, she couldn't deny that she would try.
    The ordinary person in her said they must return. The general who now served the Taiho said she should not. Her heart warred with itself, and finally yielded to the strength of Taiki's resolve.
    "Risai, will you remain behind?" Taiki had asked her, clearly seeing through her facade.
    Risai shook her head vigorously. "Don't say such absurd things."
    "Not bidding the Royal Kei farewell--" he said empathetically. "After all they have done for you, leaving like this must be painful."
    Risai tried to laugh it off. "Not at all. Only some lingering regret. The Royal Kei and all the rest have done so much to save Tai. That's why I don't really have the courage to face them like this."
    Everything was done for the good of Tai. Risai came to Gyouten as a citizen of Tai. To escape into a life of comfort and cast Tai aside would make light of all that care and consideration. To behave so despicably would be taking all the people of Tai for granted. That's what it meant for her to be a part of the greater whole as a citizen of Tai.
    Risai sighed again and opened the door to the stables behind the Taishi's manor. Only one stall was occupied. Recognizing her, Hien came to his feet, bright and eager.
    "Hien." Taiki ran over. Hien shied a bit at first, but soon realized who had addressed him, and leaned forward. "You remembered who I was," Taiki said, stroking his fur. Hien narrowed his eyes and purred gently.
    Observing this with a smile on her face, Risai got the saddle and tack in order. Gently taking up the reins, she led Hien out of the stables. She looked up at the early morning sky.
    "Heading back above the Sea of Clouds, we should arrive at one of the provincial palaces in good time. There's no telling how far Asen's grip might have reached by now, but the youma would tear us to pieces below the Sea of Clouds. In any case, if we are determined to set all obstacles aside and press forward, it really won't matter which avenue we take."
    Taiki nodded. Hien purred softly and rubbed his head against Taiki's shoulder.
    "What are you two doing up at this hour?" a voice suddenly rang out.
    Risai spun around. Rokuta emerged from the darkness of the surrounding gardens. The big shadow behind him was Koshou.
    Risai and Taiki stood there stock still. "En Taiho--how--?"
    Rokuta said with a nonchalant glance, "Oh, I happened to have been eavesdropping the other day--" He grinned. "Sorry. But I left a shirei to watch over you. So word was passed along."
    "En Taiho, I--"
    Rokuta raised his hand, silencing him. "Don't worry. I left Youko out of the loop. Though just taking off like this would cause a few problems. You forget that you're still my Taishi?"
    "That is--"
    "The Taishi of En taking it upon himself to visit Tai would raise more than a few eyebrows. Not to mention going there to pick a quarrel or two with the powers that be. That'd be even worse."
    Risai and Taiki sank into silence. Rokuta sighed and then smiled. "In that case, I shall have you demoted from the Registry of Wizards. Frankly, I fear his sudden sabbatical is making our Taishi soft in the head. But here's your severance pay."
    He tossed her a white