THE SHARED PILLOW TREE
****************************************
CHAPTER TWO
*******************

By Uiler

Archiving: Any ML archives yes.  For others, I won't say no, but please
ask first!

WARNINGS:  Shonen-ai alert.  That is, homosexual relations.  There is
nothing graphic in this chapter.


NOTES:  As noted in Chapter One, this is based on a Chinese legend about
two male lovers called appropriately enough, the Legend of the Shared
Pillow Tree.

Pang Zhang == Subaru
Wang Zhongxian  == Seishirou

The poem at the end of this chapter is not mine, but was written by a
poet
Ruan Ji (210-263) who was the lover of the famous scholar Xi Kang, the
most outstanding member of the "Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove"
who apparently was quite the bishounen as well as being devastingly
intelligent.  The poem itself comes from several dealing with
homosexuality in the "Jade Terrace" collection of love poetry.  The
translation, the story of the Shared Pillow Tree and info on Xi Kang and
Ruan Ji comes from Hinsch's "Passions of the Cut Sleeve".

Spoilers:  Currently nothing but the end of Tokyo Babylon.  But if you're
watching/reading X it's already spoiled anyway so...

**************************************************************************


The luxurious sedan swayed slightly from side-to-side as the four burly
servants carrying the heavy load on their shoulders, raced along the
dusty road.  Behind them, a stately white horse gently cantered, pulling
a cart full of chests and gifts.

"Stop", a voice emanated from the interior of the sedan.  After
signalling
to the cart behind them, the four runners gently laid their burden on the
ground.

The curtain was pulled aside to reveal a handsome young man with soft
twinkling brown eyes and a gentle smile.  As he left the sedan he was so
tall that his body literally seemed to unfold from the cramped interior.

He breathed the fresh air deeply before realising his mistake.  He
disappeared into a fit of coughing as the remnants of the dust of the
road irritated his throat.  After composing himself he smiled with wry
amusement at his servants.  "Well, it seems that I am not quite used to
traveling."  The servants smiled.  They were all quite fond of the Young
Master who was not only handsome and intelligent, carrying himself
equally well with dignity and humour, but was also
kind and not imposing - a rare confluence of virtues in a world where
those who were less than fortunate had no recourse but to bear the brunt
of the tempers and desires of their masters.  Confucius may have said
that the perfect man should care for his servants like a Father - he
should  be strict but treat them with dignity and concern - but whilst
many quoted Confucian obedience when beating their servants, few
concerned themselves with following the less convenient Confucian
responsibilities.

Wang Zhongxian - the youngest scholar since the time of the Yellow
Emperor (that is the youngest scholar in any of the books of the Sages
and in the imperial records) to score the highest in the national
examinations,  thus guaranteeing his future at the royal court - he could
even become a Prince of the Gold Dagger and marry a princess if he so
desired - stretched his long limbs.

"It is such a nice day today,  I think that I will travel the rest of the
way myself."

"But, Young Master," interjected the head servant who had rushed from the
cart to see what the problem was, "You are not used to traveling.  It is
of course not my place to say so, but perhaps it would be best - "

"No, no," Wang Zhongxian said, "Your weary feet have carried me over
many a mile this last week.  It is good for you to have some rest.  Also,
whilst the sedan it certainly comfortable and your stride smooth, with
these long limbs of mine," - the servants allowed themselves to smile
slightly, the Young Master was like a pine tree, tall yet with a graceful
movement - "I have been feeling slightly cramped.  Also, I have been
training with my mother in...those matters" - at this, the gentle brown
eyes hardened slightly.  All of the servants knew better than to comment
on "those matters".  "So it would not be an untoward
burden on my physical condition for a short walk."

The head servant bowed his head, "As you so wish Young Master."

Wang Zhongxian cheerily saw his servants off.  However, once their dust
trails had faded from the horizon, his bright smile faded.  He had not
lied - he *had* been feeling cramped in the sedan and it *was* a nice
day - but that was not his primary reason for wanting to be alone.

Ever since he and his entourage had approached the mountain he had been
feeling that something was...not quite right.  It had all the bearings of
some great supernatural force, but unlike the ghosts and demons he had
encountered before in his reluctant trainings with his mother's family,
there was no hint of malice.  As they had drawn ever closer to the house
of Pang Zhang, the presence he could feel was becoming ever stronger
until he could almost taste its essence in his mouth.

The aura was everywhere on this mountain, but it seemed to be slightly
stronger in one particular direction.  Steeling himself for a potential
conflict, the young scholar started walking.

**************************************************************************
It was not long however, before the beauty of the forest around him
started distracting him from his purpose.  It was a forest of peach
trees and it being the correct season, they were all in full bloom.
A slow rain of pale pink flowers slowly floated downwards.  Occasionally
a gust of wind would catch some of the petals as they drifted downwards
making them twirl and dance in the sunlight filtering through the
branches of the trees.

And then he saw him.

He was the most beautiful boy he had ever seen.  Coming from a rich
family
long favoured in the bureaucracy and imperial court, Wang Zhongxian was
accustomed to seeing the young lads favoured by those members
of the court who were so inclined. There were also many lovely young
lads in the Flower Palaces with powdered white skin who were favoured
with gold and many lovely silks.  This boy did not wear powder and was
dressed in simple brown cotton cloths, but his beauty outshone them all,
just as the brilliance of the Sun dwarfs the feeble light of the moon.

Amazingly enough, he was feeding a young fawn who was eating from his
hand.  Nearby stood the baby's mother, contentedly grazing.  Was this boy
a spirit that even the animals came at his beck and call?

Slowly, as if sensing his presence, the boy lifted his eyes and stared
directly at Wang Zhongxian.  The young scholar's breath caught in his
throat.  The eyes staring into his own were a bright jade green.   But
even more than the colour was the beauty of the spirit that shone from
them.  There was no fear,  nor any pretense.  All there was was the
essence of a pure soul.  For the first time Wang Zhongxian could truly
understand the attraction of the Sages for the cool pure beauty of jade
over the gaudy brilliance of gold.

Languidly, as if in a dream, he started walking towards the boy, their
eyes never losing contact.  Slowly, the boy rose from his crouching
position.

Smiling, Wang Zhongxian recited,

"In days of old there were many blossom boys -
An Ling and Long Yang.
Young peach and plum blossoms,
Dazzling with glorious brightness.
Joyful as nine springtimes;
Pliant as if bowed by autumn frost."

The green eyes widened in recognition.  Then surprisingly enough a new
flute-like voice sang the next verse,

"Roving glances gave rise to beautiful seductions;
Speech and laughter expelled fragrance;
Hand and hand they shared love's rapture,
Sharing coverlets and bedclothes."

By now, Wang Zhongxian was standing directly in front of the boy.  His
deeper voice rose to the melody of the poem,

"Couples of birds in flight,
Paired wings soaring.
Cinnamon and green pigments record a vow."

" "I'll never forget you for all eternity" " the two voices rang together
in unison.

So the young scholar and the innocent boy stood under the peach trees,
brown eyes affixed to green in mutual rapture.  All around them drifted
pale pink peach blossoms, twirling and dancing in the sunlight, just as
their destinies  were now entwined in the dancing vagarities of fate.

For just as the servant has no recourse to the whims and beatings of his
master so humans have no recourse to the whims and manipulations of
Heaven.  For he whom Heaven wishes to prosper, who can ruin him?
He whom Heaven wishes to ruin, who can save him?

*********************************************************************

NOTES: I know, I know, some of it sounds corny.  But ancient Chinese
literature and speech seem to contain a reference to
heaven/earth/man/nature everytime something happens.
Normally the whole falling in love at first sight and reciting poetry
thing also is very corny but it seems a very ancient Chinese scholarly
thing to do.

The last line "For he whom Heaven wishes to prosper, who can ruin him?
He whom Heaven wishes to ruin, who can save him?" comes from the
Discourse of the King of Ch'u in the Tso-chuan, the Narratives of Tso,
written in the 5th century BC.




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