Deep Rooted Tree
Apr. 27th, 2012 07:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wonderlifeAuthor: Nichole
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,630
Story Title: Deep Rooted Tree
Story: AU: Legends of the Three Kingdoms
Summary: An Emperor meets the Dragon Tomb Sect
Author's Note:isanah wanted to see Jiro and Taka in ancient Japan. This is as close as I could get to that. Think of it as an alternate Japan in an alternate world, with a rich and complex history. A history I one day may explore.
Year One; age 17
He had found them quit by accident. Hidden deep within the woods, the three of them lived away from the prying eyes of the city. There was the old man and his two pupils. The man was called Park Ki Soo, the boy was Shin-woo and the girl (though, if he was completely honest, it had taken him a moment to figure out she was a girl) was Taka.
*
Ki Soo teaches his pupils the art of fighting, oh!. . .how it is an art when they move. Ever so gracefully the three move about the forest, fighting one another with bare hands and old swords. Ki Soo looks proudly at his pupils.
“We are the Dragon Tomb Sect. The very last of our Sect.” Ki Soo sighs softly, sadly. “The very last.”
He wishes he were apart of their Sect.
*
The Dragon Tomb Sect is in one of the Court's historical records. The first Emperor of his country – his own ancestor – was a member of The Dragon Tomb Sect. Historical records also show that the wife of the the first King of his neighboring country – she was a member, too. The rest were supposed to have been killed during the Formation. And yet, three of them are hiding in his woods – a very long way from home.
*
He never brings up what he finds about them in the historical records. He just goes back to them, any second he can. He fakes illness and sneaks out of the Palace. Every time he enters the woods, his woods, he fears they will be gone.
They always find him.
Year Two; age 18
He is crowned Emperor, but he will not rule. No, his Aunt Kaori will be the real one make the decisions of his country. He is just the face; the puppet. He tells this to Ki Soo, who simply nods, his expression serious.
*
Shin-woo and Taka are now nineteen and twelve summers old. Shin-woo tells him that once Taka is fifteen, they'll decide who will become the Master of the Sect once their Master is gone.
“I am her Senior, but Taka is more focused.” Shin-woo admits. “There is a part of me that does not want to be the next Master. You aren't allowed to marry if you are the Master of The Dragon Tomb Sect.” Shin-woo shrugs awkwardly. “I may want to do that. My Junior-Sister,” his brow furls slightly. “I'm not sure she knows there is a difference between men and women.”
Year Five; age 21
Taka turns fifteen on a cool and rainy day. He knows it is a special day, but matters in the Palace make it impossible for him to escape. Besides, his Aunt Kaori has been keeping a rather close eye on him, making it a chore to even leave his chambers without an investigation.
When he finally finds a chance to escape. . .they don't find him. The woods are empty and there isn't even a sign that anyone was ever there.
Year Nine; age 25
They all wanted him to marry. Each of them – his aunt, the members of his Court, the advisers – have a different girl in mind. Though, the two top contenders seemed to be: Princess Ling'er of the Tang Dynasty and Princess Aoi of Shilla. Princess Ling'er was favored by most of his advisers, while Princess Aoi was his aunt's choice; the court itself seemed divided.
He thought both choices were a little. . .wrong. Princess Ling'er was barely fifteen and Princess Aoi just came across as a snob.
In the end, Princess Aoi is chosen as his future bride.
Year Ten; age 26
He is strolling through the forest when he sees Park Ki Soo sitting very so calmly on a large rock. The Master of The Dragon Tomb Sect appears to be shorter and more gray than before. He thinks Ki Soo looks tired.
“Master -”
“Oh,” Ki Soo glances up at him. “you're still here.”
He smiles despite himself. “Of course. I'm the Emperor.”
“Are you?”
*
Shin-woo and Taka are back, as well. Neither has left to travel the world and for that he is grateful. Shin-woo is much the same, playful and always wondering off for his own adventures. Taka is taller, more beautiful – he doesn't mistake her for a boy this time. He wants to ask if Taka will become the new Sect Master after Ki Soo dies, but he cannot bring himself to do so.
*
Taka, he remembers, was always quiet. But, he thinks she has grown even more quiet in the years they've been apart. He wants to ask her what happened – why they left like that – but, he doesn't.
*
“Master said we had to go.” Taka tells him one night.
The two of them walk through the forest. They are moving farther and farther from Ki Soo and Shin-woo, and he's not sure if that's the best idea.
“Go where?”
Taka's stroll slows to a stop. “I'm not supposed to say, Emperor.”
He sighs deeply. “My name is Jiro. You're Taka. Jiro and Taka. There is no Emperor here.” Slowly, as if he were approaching a wild animal, he moved toward her. Once they were mere inches apart, he brushed some of her hair out of her oval face. “We're both just people.”
“Just people?” Taka shook her head. “You're the Emperor and I -”
He stopped her words by pressing his lips against hers. Taka's lips were warm and oft; moist. His hands found her waist. Her hands wrapped around his neck.
They stayed like that for longer then they should have.
*
“I'd like to marry her.” He told Ki Soo three months after he kissed her. “I love her. I love Taka.”
Eerily calm, Ki Soo stared at – through – him. “More than your country? An Emperor cannot marry below him. The future leader of The Dragon Tomb Sect cannot marry anyone.”
He stayed silent for several moments. There was a part of him that wanted to go, to run. He could take Taka back to the Palace. Take her as his wife, defy Ki Soo, his aunt, everyone. He could be the runway Emperor or he could be the Emperor who married a commoner. Not marry Princess Aoi. Not be an Emperor. Not. . .
“On her twenty-first birthday, she and I will be married by you. The day after, I'll return to the Palace and never come back here. You take Shin-woo and Taka and you go away. Never come back. In forty days, I marry Princess Aoi of Shilla. In forty years, neither Taka nor I will remember one another.”
Year Eleven; age 27
In the middle of the forest, there was a large tree with deep roots peeking out from under the ground. That was where he would marry Taka. For the special day, Shin-woo had found Taka a red silk dress and a red silk veil. The only thing that marked her as his Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect were her dirty black shoes made of fur. He felt his lips curling up into a grin, as he and Taka knelt before Ki Soo, who stood in front of the large tree.
Ki Soo cleared his throat and spoke in a loud and serious tone. “First, bow to the Gods of Heaven and Earth.” Taking his cues from Taka – this was all new to him – they both kowtowed. “Bow to the ancestors of The Dragon Tomb Sect.” Again, they kowtowed. “Now, bow to the bride's family.” Awkwardly, the two shifted to their right, to kowtow before Shin-woo.
Carefully, Ki Soo took a red piece of string from his pocket. With great care, he wrapped one end of the string around Taka's wrist; he then wrapped the other end to Jiro's wrist. “Your fates are now one. You are husband and wife now and for the rest of this life.”
“And all our lives after.” Jiro whispered softly into Taka's ear.
*
The next morning, a hour before sunrise, he woke and gently kissed a sleeping Taka's forehead.
He would keep his promise and leave – never come into the woods again. He would be the Emperor and marry a princess and rule his country well. And in forty years – he would still remember his wife, Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect.
Year Eleven; age 21
Shin-woo found Taka sitting under the large tree where she had been married the day before. Just sitting and holding her red silk veil. The veil that the Emperor had lifted not a day before. Smiling softly, Shin-woo sat beside his Junior-Sister and gently patted her hand.
“He won't come back.” Taka stated flatly, never taking her eyes off the veil. “He'll stay in his cold Palace and marry the Princess. I'll become the Master of our Sect. In forty years, we'll hardly remember one another. Just a faint, bittersweet memory.” she swallowed. “I hope to meet him in our next life. He can be ugly or fat or even my own brother. Just as long as we meet again. Even if I don't get to be his wife, I want to be in his life.”
“Come,” Shin-woo took the veil from Taka's hands and stood. “let's bury your poor marriage under the tree.” He reached out his free hand to her. “Maybe your next life will be happier.”
Taka took his offered hand and allowed herself to be pulled up. “Yes, maybe.”
*
They buried the veil under the same spot were she and the Emperor had knelt. As a marker, they stuck a piece of wood into the ground.
The marriage of Emperor Jiro and Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect rests here
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,630
Story Title: Deep Rooted Tree
Story: AU: Legends of the Three Kingdoms
Summary: An Emperor meets the Dragon Tomb Sect
Author's Note:
isanah wanted to see Jiro and Taka in ancient Japan. This is as close as I could get to that. Think of it as an alternate Japan in an alternate world, with a rich and complex history. A history I one day may explore. Year One; age 17
He had found them quit by accident. Hidden deep within the woods, the three of them lived away from the prying eyes of the city. There was the old man and his two pupils. The man was called Park Ki Soo, the boy was Shin-woo and the girl (though, if he was completely honest, it had taken him a moment to figure out she was a girl) was Taka.
*
Ki Soo teaches his pupils the art of fighting, oh!. . .how it is an art when they move. Ever so gracefully the three move about the forest, fighting one another with bare hands and old swords. Ki Soo looks proudly at his pupils.
“We are the Dragon Tomb Sect. The very last of our Sect.” Ki Soo sighs softly, sadly. “The very last.”
He wishes he were apart of their Sect.
*
The Dragon Tomb Sect is in one of the Court's historical records. The first Emperor of his country – his own ancestor – was a member of The Dragon Tomb Sect. Historical records also show that the wife of the the first King of his neighboring country – she was a member, too. The rest were supposed to have been killed during the Formation. And yet, three of them are hiding in his woods – a very long way from home.
*
He never brings up what he finds about them in the historical records. He just goes back to them, any second he can. He fakes illness and sneaks out of the Palace. Every time he enters the woods, his woods, he fears they will be gone.
They always find him.
Year Two; age 18
He is crowned Emperor, but he will not rule. No, his Aunt Kaori will be the real one make the decisions of his country. He is just the face; the puppet. He tells this to Ki Soo, who simply nods, his expression serious.
*
Shin-woo and Taka are now nineteen and twelve summers old. Shin-woo tells him that once Taka is fifteen, they'll decide who will become the Master of the Sect once their Master is gone.
“I am her Senior, but Taka is more focused.” Shin-woo admits. “There is a part of me that does not want to be the next Master. You aren't allowed to marry if you are the Master of The Dragon Tomb Sect.” Shin-woo shrugs awkwardly. “I may want to do that. My Junior-Sister,” his brow furls slightly. “I'm not sure she knows there is a difference between men and women.”
Year Five; age 21
Taka turns fifteen on a cool and rainy day. He knows it is a special day, but matters in the Palace make it impossible for him to escape. Besides, his Aunt Kaori has been keeping a rather close eye on him, making it a chore to even leave his chambers without an investigation.
When he finally finds a chance to escape. . .they don't find him. The woods are empty and there isn't even a sign that anyone was ever there.
Year Nine; age 25
They all wanted him to marry. Each of them – his aunt, the members of his Court, the advisers – have a different girl in mind. Though, the two top contenders seemed to be: Princess Ling'er of the Tang Dynasty and Princess Aoi of Shilla. Princess Ling'er was favored by most of his advisers, while Princess Aoi was his aunt's choice; the court itself seemed divided.
He thought both choices were a little. . .wrong. Princess Ling'er was barely fifteen and Princess Aoi just came across as a snob.
In the end, Princess Aoi is chosen as his future bride.
Year Ten; age 26
He is strolling through the forest when he sees Park Ki Soo sitting very so calmly on a large rock. The Master of The Dragon Tomb Sect appears to be shorter and more gray than before. He thinks Ki Soo looks tired.
“Master -”
“Oh,” Ki Soo glances up at him. “you're still here.”
He smiles despite himself. “Of course. I'm the Emperor.”
“Are you?”
*
Shin-woo and Taka are back, as well. Neither has left to travel the world and for that he is grateful. Shin-woo is much the same, playful and always wondering off for his own adventures. Taka is taller, more beautiful – he doesn't mistake her for a boy this time. He wants to ask if Taka will become the new Sect Master after Ki Soo dies, but he cannot bring himself to do so.
*
Taka, he remembers, was always quiet. But, he thinks she has grown even more quiet in the years they've been apart. He wants to ask her what happened – why they left like that – but, he doesn't.
*
“Master said we had to go.” Taka tells him one night.
The two of them walk through the forest. They are moving farther and farther from Ki Soo and Shin-woo, and he's not sure if that's the best idea.
“Go where?”
Taka's stroll slows to a stop. “I'm not supposed to say, Emperor.”
He sighs deeply. “My name is Jiro. You're Taka. Jiro and Taka. There is no Emperor here.” Slowly, as if he were approaching a wild animal, he moved toward her. Once they were mere inches apart, he brushed some of her hair out of her oval face. “We're both just people.”
“Just people?” Taka shook her head. “You're the Emperor and I -”
He stopped her words by pressing his lips against hers. Taka's lips were warm and oft; moist. His hands found her waist. Her hands wrapped around his neck.
They stayed like that for longer then they should have.
*
“I'd like to marry her.” He told Ki Soo three months after he kissed her. “I love her. I love Taka.”
Eerily calm, Ki Soo stared at – through – him. “More than your country? An Emperor cannot marry below him. The future leader of The Dragon Tomb Sect cannot marry anyone.”
He stayed silent for several moments. There was a part of him that wanted to go, to run. He could take Taka back to the Palace. Take her as his wife, defy Ki Soo, his aunt, everyone. He could be the runway Emperor or he could be the Emperor who married a commoner. Not marry Princess Aoi. Not be an Emperor. Not. . .
“On her twenty-first birthday, she and I will be married by you. The day after, I'll return to the Palace and never come back here. You take Shin-woo and Taka and you go away. Never come back. In forty days, I marry Princess Aoi of Shilla. In forty years, neither Taka nor I will remember one another.”
Year Eleven; age 27
In the middle of the forest, there was a large tree with deep roots peeking out from under the ground. That was where he would marry Taka. For the special day, Shin-woo had found Taka a red silk dress and a red silk veil. The only thing that marked her as his Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect were her dirty black shoes made of fur. He felt his lips curling up into a grin, as he and Taka knelt before Ki Soo, who stood in front of the large tree.
Ki Soo cleared his throat and spoke in a loud and serious tone. “First, bow to the Gods of Heaven and Earth.” Taking his cues from Taka – this was all new to him – they both kowtowed. “Bow to the ancestors of The Dragon Tomb Sect.” Again, they kowtowed. “Now, bow to the bride's family.” Awkwardly, the two shifted to their right, to kowtow before Shin-woo.
Carefully, Ki Soo took a red piece of string from his pocket. With great care, he wrapped one end of the string around Taka's wrist; he then wrapped the other end to Jiro's wrist. “Your fates are now one. You are husband and wife now and for the rest of this life.”
“And all our lives after.” Jiro whispered softly into Taka's ear.
*
The next morning, a hour before sunrise, he woke and gently kissed a sleeping Taka's forehead.
He would keep his promise and leave – never come into the woods again. He would be the Emperor and marry a princess and rule his country well. And in forty years – he would still remember his wife, Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect.
Year Eleven; age 21
Shin-woo found Taka sitting under the large tree where she had been married the day before. Just sitting and holding her red silk veil. The veil that the Emperor had lifted not a day before. Smiling softly, Shin-woo sat beside his Junior-Sister and gently patted her hand.
“He won't come back.” Taka stated flatly, never taking her eyes off the veil. “He'll stay in his cold Palace and marry the Princess. I'll become the Master of our Sect. In forty years, we'll hardly remember one another. Just a faint, bittersweet memory.” she swallowed. “I hope to meet him in our next life. He can be ugly or fat or even my own brother. Just as long as we meet again. Even if I don't get to be his wife, I want to be in his life.”
“Come,” Shin-woo took the veil from Taka's hands and stood. “let's bury your poor marriage under the tree.” He reached out his free hand to her. “Maybe your next life will be happier.”
Taka took his offered hand and allowed herself to be pulled up. “Yes, maybe.”
*
They buried the veil under the same spot were she and the Emperor had knelt. As a marker, they stuck a piece of wood into the ground.
The marriage of Emperor Jiro and Taka of The Dragon Tomb Sect rests here
