Fic: Early Morning Moments (for hisoka44)
Title: Early Morning Moments
Rating: T
By: priestess_skye
Summary: Early morning was Shouka's favourite time of day . . .
Notes: I tried my best with this. It’s an interesting concept. I’m hoping they’re not all too out of character but even if they are, I had fun with this!
The gardens were particularly peaceful this morning. A fresh breeze blew through the air, causing the leaves on the sakura tree to rustle lightly. The sweet, fragrant smell of the cherry blossoms wafted through the courtyard. A small pond glistened in the sunlight as the water rippled gently along the edges. Even the koi inside seemed to be relaxed. Early morning was Shouka’s favourite time of day, when he could escape the household and enjoy the serenity of the moment without his two younger brothers in tow.
His brothers meant well, he knew. They loved him as brothers should, and regarded him fondly, just as he did them, but there were times when he needed his moments alone. Finding a shaded spot, Shouka parked himself beneath a large tree, and opened the book within his hand. Everything else faded away in these special moments. Kuro would say that he had his head in the clouds. Reishin hung onto every word he had to say.
He just wanted to read in peace.
Reishin was an interesting child, full of potential though he often seemed younger than he was. His intelligence was far superior to that of the other two brothers, and that was fine by Shouka. Intelligence was highly regarded within the Kou clan, and he knew that Reishin would receive the best anyone had to offer. The boy would go far as an official if he so chose. Perhaps that’s why he was as clingy as he was. He knew his future, he could see it, and knew there would eventually be a separation. Reishin could not become a high ranking government official as he wished to do without having to leave those he held dear at home. He wished to spend as much time with his brothers now as he could. It was a sad thought, knowing that such a young boy could realize the loneliness he might endure later.
Even he, himself had thought about participating in the national exams to become a government official. It would give his family honour, he was told, despite the fact that as the Kou clan, they demanded it from everybody else. In truth, he didn’t have the head for it. He could take exams, do well, and make a name for himself, but he didn’t have the desire to spend the rest of his life playing politics.
He just wanted to be.
“You’re head is in the clouds again,” Kuro admonished as he stood at the edge of the garden, regarding his brother. “What is there that is so interesting?” he frowned, unable to comprehend his brother’s fascination with the written word. Shouka was an enigma to him. Kind one moment, ruthless when he needed to be, and absolutely everything that the future head of the Kou family should not be. He forgave, he offered advice, and he smiled kindly at those who made mistakes. Reishin would make a better head of the family. He was selfish enough to put the clan’s needs above all else. He didn’t think Shouka had it in him.
He was too...gentle.
“Father is waiting for you so our studies can begin.”
“Don’t you ever wish you could just stop and slow down, Kuro?” Shouka finally asked, lifting his head from the pages. “You’re always in such a rush to grow up, to become the family politician, to play the game that a million other men across the country wish to play. It becomes tedious and monotonous.”
Growling, Kuro turned away from him, his frustration coming from his lack of understanding. Shouka was not fit to rule the clan. Surely he must know it himself. A hand fell upon his shoulder, and looking up he noticed his older brother, Reishin. “Brother Shouka knows what he’s doing,” he said, though his eyes betrayed his beliefs. Reishin was just as unsure as Kuro, though perhaps he hid it a little better. He would be the politician. He could go far in his career simply by keeping watch over everything, and maintaining his calm facade. In three years Reishin would be taking the national exams. Kuro was sure his score would outdo even that of Shouka’s.
“He would disgrace the family name,” Kuro growled. Nine years old, he understood the power play between most powerful of families. He understood the influence of the Kou clan. He also understood that as the youngest he would never be given the opportunity to lead. But he could have the chance if the position were offered to Reishin instead. Infinitely closer to the middle brother, he knew he could rule from behind the scenes, especially if Reishin were to take up a role as a government official. Reishin would be too busy to oversee the day to day operations.
Shouka looked up from his spot beneath the tree, seeing his two younger brothers deep in thought. Sighing, he closed his book and lifted himself up. His moment of peace was over and his brothers looked none too pleased at his choice to take it. They merely didn’t understand him. His priorities were different. He was different. He wasn’t allowed to be different. Sighing, he resolved himself to the inevitable; the day would begin. He would take up his position as heir to the clan and learn all of the ins and outs from his father.
And all the while he would dream of the moment when he could sit down and just be himself again.
Rating: T
By: priestess_skye
Summary: Early morning was Shouka's favourite time of day . . .
Notes: I tried my best with this. It’s an interesting concept. I’m hoping they’re not all too out of character but even if they are, I had fun with this!
The gardens were particularly peaceful this morning. A fresh breeze blew through the air, causing the leaves on the sakura tree to rustle lightly. The sweet, fragrant smell of the cherry blossoms wafted through the courtyard. A small pond glistened in the sunlight as the water rippled gently along the edges. Even the koi inside seemed to be relaxed. Early morning was Shouka’s favourite time of day, when he could escape the household and enjoy the serenity of the moment without his two younger brothers in tow.
His brothers meant well, he knew. They loved him as brothers should, and regarded him fondly, just as he did them, but there were times when he needed his moments alone. Finding a shaded spot, Shouka parked himself beneath a large tree, and opened the book within his hand. Everything else faded away in these special moments. Kuro would say that he had his head in the clouds. Reishin hung onto every word he had to say.
He just wanted to read in peace.
Reishin was an interesting child, full of potential though he often seemed younger than he was. His intelligence was far superior to that of the other two brothers, and that was fine by Shouka. Intelligence was highly regarded within the Kou clan, and he knew that Reishin would receive the best anyone had to offer. The boy would go far as an official if he so chose. Perhaps that’s why he was as clingy as he was. He knew his future, he could see it, and knew there would eventually be a separation. Reishin could not become a high ranking government official as he wished to do without having to leave those he held dear at home. He wished to spend as much time with his brothers now as he could. It was a sad thought, knowing that such a young boy could realize the loneliness he might endure later.
Even he, himself had thought about participating in the national exams to become a government official. It would give his family honour, he was told, despite the fact that as the Kou clan, they demanded it from everybody else. In truth, he didn’t have the head for it. He could take exams, do well, and make a name for himself, but he didn’t have the desire to spend the rest of his life playing politics.
He just wanted to be.
“You’re head is in the clouds again,” Kuro admonished as he stood at the edge of the garden, regarding his brother. “What is there that is so interesting?” he frowned, unable to comprehend his brother’s fascination with the written word. Shouka was an enigma to him. Kind one moment, ruthless when he needed to be, and absolutely everything that the future head of the Kou family should not be. He forgave, he offered advice, and he smiled kindly at those who made mistakes. Reishin would make a better head of the family. He was selfish enough to put the clan’s needs above all else. He didn’t think Shouka had it in him.
He was too...gentle.
“Father is waiting for you so our studies can begin.”
“Don’t you ever wish you could just stop and slow down, Kuro?” Shouka finally asked, lifting his head from the pages. “You’re always in such a rush to grow up, to become the family politician, to play the game that a million other men across the country wish to play. It becomes tedious and monotonous.”
Growling, Kuro turned away from him, his frustration coming from his lack of understanding. Shouka was not fit to rule the clan. Surely he must know it himself. A hand fell upon his shoulder, and looking up he noticed his older brother, Reishin. “Brother Shouka knows what he’s doing,” he said, though his eyes betrayed his beliefs. Reishin was just as unsure as Kuro, though perhaps he hid it a little better. He would be the politician. He could go far in his career simply by keeping watch over everything, and maintaining his calm facade. In three years Reishin would be taking the national exams. Kuro was sure his score would outdo even that of Shouka’s.
“He would disgrace the family name,” Kuro growled. Nine years old, he understood the power play between most powerful of families. He understood the influence of the Kou clan. He also understood that as the youngest he would never be given the opportunity to lead. But he could have the chance if the position were offered to Reishin instead. Infinitely closer to the middle brother, he knew he could rule from behind the scenes, especially if Reishin were to take up a role as a government official. Reishin would be too busy to oversee the day to day operations.
Shouka looked up from his spot beneath the tree, seeing his two younger brothers deep in thought. Sighing, he closed his book and lifted himself up. His moment of peace was over and his brothers looked none too pleased at his choice to take it. They merely didn’t understand him. His priorities were different. He was different. He wasn’t allowed to be different. Sighing, he resolved himself to the inevitable; the day would begin. He would take up his position as heir to the clan and learn all of the ins and outs from his father.
And all the while he would dream of the moment when he could sit down and just be himself again.