L'empereur Kammu (alias Kanmu) régna dans l'ancien Japon de 781 à 806 et est surtout connu pour avoir déplacé la capitale à Heian-kyō (Kyoto) en 794. Kammu était l'un des empereurs les plus puissants que le Japon ait connu ou connaîtrait jamais, et son règne fut marqué par une restructuration de la maison royale et du gouvernement, réduisant les coûts de l'État et le rendant plus apte à gérer le pays et à lutter contre la corruption.
Emperor Kammu (aka Kanmu) reigned in ancient Japan from 781 to 806 CE and is most noted for relocating the capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto) in 794 CE. Kammu was one of the most powerful emperors Japan had seen or would ever see, and his reign witnessed a restructuring of the royal household and government, reducing the state's costs and making it better able to manage the country and fight corruption.
"Light a Corner, each of you must be a light in your own place, illuminating the world around you, which is your essential role. It is through the accumulation of these efforts that the world is created.”
- Saichō (b. September 15, 767 – d. June 26, 822) was a Japanese Buddhist monk credited with founding the Tendai school of Buddhism based on the Chinese Tiantai school he was exposed to during his trip to Tang China beginning in 804. He founded the temple and headquarters of Tendai at Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei near Kyoto. He is also said to have been the first to bring tea to Japan.
The Master's teaching to say: "We tend to focus on what is glamorous, what stands out, but we must not forget that it is just as precious to work in some corner of the world, focusing on things that are unnoticed.” "Everyone on this planet is as important. No worries."
Pairings: implied Saito/Cho, SaisaRating: MSummary: Cho has a realization about his boss that turns the universe upside down. Also on AO3.
Tough Love
“Hnnn?” It was a pensive sound, starting low and risingsteadily. “You’re tellin’ me this iswhat them westerners eat?” Cho brought the plate closer to his face and hisnostrils flared. The rectangular-cut dessert was a rich brown and, though notunpleasant, carried an unusual scent.
“Mm.” At his side, Officer Tsukamoto stood with his own helpingand nodded in agreement. He used a pair of chopsticks to break a corner off hisslice. “I tried it for the first time when I took my family to Yokohama thisweekend. It’s kind of strange at first but we all ended up liking it very muchso…” A kind smile crossed his features. “I thought to bring some back for thestation.”
“Guess I know who’s eyin’ promotion ‘round here. Though, that’dnever work with my friggin’ boss.” Cholooked up, watching his colleague slide the morsel into his mouth. “And yousay they call this…what again?”
“Mmph.” Tsukamoto nodded once more to fill in for thesilence as he chewed. “Chocolate cake. Try it!”
“Chocolate cake, huh? Well!” Picking up his chopsticks, Chocut his piece in half. “Here’s to eatin’ like a westerner, then!”
The first bite was…he frowned, wrinkled his nose, andsnapped his face to the side, swallowing quickly.
“Eh?!” A laugh erupted. “You should see yourself! It isn’t poison,Cho.”
“What…the hell…isthis? It’s so…”
Still chuckling, Tsukamoto supplied, “Sweet? I thought sotoo, but you get used it to real fast.”
“More like unbearablysweet. And…” Cho chewed on nothing several times to kick up the taste in hismouth again. “…strong. Weird.” Heshook his head. “Hey, look, I appreciate it but nah. This ain’t me. Hell, Iwouldn’t even give it to my—” he trailed off as an idea formed.
“Your…?”
With a smirk pulling out to Cho’s cheeks, his chin lifted. “Onsecond thought, never mind.” He gave a friendly shove to Tsukamoto’s shoulder.“Thanks, man! Think I’ma take the rest to my desk.”
“I told you you’d get used to it!” Tsukamoto called afterhim in a jovial tone.
“Haha, yeah!” Cho waved over his shoulder and when he wasout of earshot, muttered beneath his breath, “Get used to it, my ass.”
He wasn’t cut out for this kind of decadent indulgence, with hispreference for a bland diet. But he also wasn’t the only one around these parts who enjoyed so-called boring sustenanceand in fact, compared to plain kake soba, Cho thought his meals were quitefancy.
That’s how the idea formed to use this sweet chocolate caketo serve up some equally sweet revenge. Saito had been exceptionally dickish inthe last two weeks—constantly hovering over him, bitching about this andbitching about that. He hadn’t said even an inkling of a nice thing since thislatest case broke and it was getting on Cho’s nerves.
Your attention todetail is severely lacking. (Istayed up all night doing this shit, asshole.)
You’re late. Again.(By five whole minutes, oh wow!)
The deadline was movedup by two days. After hour work is required. (Yeah, because I ain’t got nosocial life. Yep. You got it, Fujita.)
Get out of my officeunless you have something important to say. I don’t have time to idly prattlewith you. (I was just askin’ about your weekend. Damn.)
Don’t ask me toexplain things you can easily find out on your own. (Why are you likethis?)
It was really more of the same business as usual, just inheavier doses, but Cho was more put off about the potential explanation of Saito’srecent extra irascibility.
Rooster-head hadn’t been around lately and the lack of hispresence seemed to be directly correlated to Saito being in the worst mood ofall time. He was inapproachable at best, and the number of smoked cigarettesbuilt higher and higher over the hours until the ashtray was holding a smallmountain by evening.
Figures. Cho had long suspected something was going onbetween them and while this development would satisfy his curiosity as solidevidence (and even be amusing gossip), it annoyed him more than anything. Whyshould he have to shoulder the bruntof their fallout, after all? He just worked here, damn it.
As Cho strolled down the hall, he sucked his teeth. Leave itto the fuckin’ rooster to get involved with such a demanding, thanklesshard-ass, who had ice in his veins and never smiled if not for sarcasm. Hell,those qualities were the exact reasons Cho had wanted—more than once—to punch Saitosquare in the jaw, especially over the last few days since they seemed to haveamplified three-fold.
Unfortunately, such an option was out of the questionbecause thatwould’ve meant he’d also be out of a job, but this sugar-laced weaponin hand would allow him to annoy Saito in a way that appeared entirelyinnocent.
As Cho approached the stairs, he could see thesituation unfolding:
“Ey, boss! I just atethis really, really delicious thingfrom Yokohama and it was so good that I had to bring you some! Here, try it.It’s amazing! You will to~tally loveit.” Wink wink, nudge, nudge.
“Sawagejo. I am anabsolute asshole who will not thank you for such a kind act. But I’ll acceptyour offer anyway. Because I’m a dick.”
Then, Saito would take a bite and be so totally shocked and horrified that those stupid antenna bangs would stand straight up and his perpetuallyserious face would contort into something hilarious. And with due justice delivered, the triumphantCho would exit his office to go laugh his ass off.
‘Good! It’ll serve him right!’ Cho thought as he started descendingto the landing separating the first and second floors. However, betweenbeing both too smug and overly eager to achieve his vengeance, he managed to miss a stephalfway, lost his footing, and began to stumble.
A snapshot of the situation flashed through Cho’s mind. Theplate was in his right hand. That’s where the banister was, too. He managed topivot and swing his left arm toward it so he could regain his balance, but thefloundering put the railing out of reach and with a shout, his eyes shut tightas he fell backward. The dish crashed against the floor and tumbled in a clamor:a prelude to the pain that Cho’s body would also experience.
…only, it didn’t.
He remained flinching.
…because he landed somewhere soft.
The realization slowly dawned.
…as in, half bridal-style in someone’s arms.
At that, Cho’s eyes snapped open to find Saito’s golden onesboring into his and his body went rigid. Unblinking, he stared blankly as amillion observations hit him at once; perhaps, it was from all the adrenalinecoursing through his system, but whatever the reason, he was suddenly extremelyaware of several things.
Those long black bangs didn’t appear so awkward from thisangle and the hard lines of Saito’s face no longer as threatening. Up close,these features were actually…quite handsome. Cho could feel breath spillingacross his skin, could smell cigarettes and soba and a trace of mint. Saito’sarms were strong and warm and they’d caught him effortlessly and…
‘Holy shit, he hasnice lips.’ Another most unfortunate intrusive thought.
“Sawagejo.”
“Hn!” A kneejerk reaction had Cho attempting to surgehimself forward without success, and Saito simply pushed him back up on hisfeet.
“Be more careful, you moron.”
“D—” Cho cleared his throat and pressed his back to thewall, gathering himself. “Don’t talk to me like I’m rooster-head or somethin’!”
Saito’s brow merely twitched and he then pointed to the mess.“Dare I ask?”
“Cht. You’ll eat anything, won’t you?” Tossing his face tothe side, Saito turned to the stairs and began to climb. “You really are like him.”
“H…hey!” Cho called, the fire all but gone from his voice bythis point. “I’m nothin’ like rooster, y’hear?”
A heavy, sarcastic sigh fell from Saito. “Right.” Then, he disappeared on the second landing.
Blinking, Cho’s attention fell to the sad sight of cakeon the floor. He may not have liked or even wanted to eat it, but afterspending too many days of his childhood starving, he hated seeing food go towaste. His whole plan for petty vengeance was looking more and more ridiculousby the second, because it was clear that Saito wouldn’t have taken the offer to begin with.Cho should’ve known.
And as for Saito…
Cho swallowed, not feeling much like revenge anymore. Infact, he was more confused and terrified than anything because he’d totallyjust realized his boss was attractive…and his boss had totally just comparedhim to his ex. …Or his presumed ex.
With a hand coming to up his mouth, both of Cho’s eyeswidened.
Holy shit.
Did Saito have a type, and was he it? His heart fluttered.
This was not good.
~
Several ideas marinated overnight and by morning, Chodecided that, yes, there were some glaring similarities between himself andthat damn rooster after all. Saito had always been prodding Sano and trying to whiphis ass into shaping up when he’d been around; it was the same treatment Cho received.
It was logical to assume, by these facts, that the boss did, indeed, have a type.
…And if Sano was it, then so was Cho.
He slammed a hand on his desk at that thought, startling anearby colleague, and began drumming his fingers. How could he have gone fromnever seeing Saito to seeing Saito withinthe span of five seconds?
Landing in his arms had somethingto do with it, along with getting a glimpse of his lips up close and beinginundated by his scent…not to mention having the impression that Saitoactually cared more than he let on, but…Cho groaned and rubbed furiously at thesides of his head.
‘Don’t think about it,don’t think about it!’
He continued to think about it.
This was not goodat all.
~
There hadn’t been any reason to go into Saito’s office, butCho found himself shuffling down the hall anyway. Halfway there, he scowled andwondered what he was even doing. That’s when he heard a familiar voice.
“Aw, c’mon. You knowyou missed me! I bet you spent all week brooding and pining while I was gone.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“Uh-huh…”
Cho peered into Saito’s office to find Sano halfway throughthe window from outside, leaning on his forearms and wearing a huge satisfiedgrin. Saito stood facing him, tobacco in hand.
“By the way, I got you somethin’, old man…” Sano sang. He reacheddown and reappeared, extending a large peach in Saito’s direction. “For makin’you wait so long for me to come back. You can have this one now.” His voice lowered. “Andthe other one later.”
Saito huffed. “Aho.” But he did accept it. And Cho was suddenlyaware that there was endearment inhis insult. In fact, Cho had begun to realize that every time Saito had eversaid something he’d presumed as offensive, it had carried with it backwardencouragement or some kind of tough love.
Tough love.
Holy shit. That’swhat rooster-head saw in him. And because it was so cleverly disguised, no one else noticed.
“You’d better go,” Saito said. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Yeah, yeah! See you tonight.” Sano winked and loweredhimself slowly to his feet. Lingering for a moment more, he fluttered his eye lashes, smiled, and disappeared from the window.
Cho watched as Saito turned, regarding the peach—andsimply wasn’t ready to see those shapely lips curved into a tiny smile. An actual smile.
Saito placed the fruit on his desk and then glanced up. Cho’sback straightened when their eyes met and he shoved himself out of sight.
“Sawagejo.” Cho heard from inside and his stomach dropped. “A suggestion.”
Slinking back into the doorway, he swallowed and looked up. “…Yeah,boss?”
“Lurking outside your superior’s office doesn’t look good.”Saito cocked his head ever so slightly. “So, unless you’re here for a reason, Iwould immediately get back to work.”
Nodding, Cho held his hand up and forced a laugh. “Iwasn’t—I mean.” A piecing gaze sized him up. “Yeah, lemme go do that. The analysisis almost done, so I’ll just…” He pointed down the hall. “Yeah.”
Using the frame, he hurled himself out of Saito’s view again and stalked back to his desk with his cheeks burning. How stupid could hehave been? All Saito cared about with Cho was work getting done, but when it came to a damn rooster-headed idiot, it was all accepting peaches and smiling softly and…ugh, fuck it all.
When Cho slumped into his chair and flipped to the page heleft off at, the sudden sound of the Chief’s voice surprised him.
“Ah, Commissioner Kawaji! This way, Sir.”
Kawaji?! Cho threw himself back into his task, making sure he looked busy as the twoof them passed by him and when they turned the corner, he gazed over his shoulder.The commissioner was someone who made the sound of even Saito’s criticismssimilar to a kitten’s purr. If he’d seen Cho just standing around outside hisboss’s door, it wouldn’t have gone over well.
…Had Saito been looking out for him just now? Surely, he’dknown Kawaji would be around today.
Cho blinked. Was that more tough love? Possibly… But thetoughest thing about this all was that he’d begun falling for someone who hecouldn’t have—at least not without a fight.
With a groan, he rubbed at his face, but when Cho peeredover the tips of his fingers, his eyes were determined.
“Hope you’re ready for war, Sagara…”
The Great Score of Broom VS Rooster was about to get intense.
Presenting offerings to the Tendai founder Saichō (最澄) in the Jōdoin Hall (浄土院) as part of the twelve year training regimen (十二年籠山行) for monks-in-training at Enryakuji Temple (延暦寺) on Mount Hiei (比叡山) north of Kyoto
Image from page 38 of a booklet acquired at the temple June 4, 1994
Esoteric Buddhism is the mystical interpretation and practice of the belief system founded by the Buddha (known as Sakyamuni Buddha, l. c. 563 - c. 483 BCE). It is known by several names and is characterized by a personal relationship with a spirit guide or deity who leads one to enlightenment.
Kūkai ou Kōbō-Daishi (774-835) était un érudit, un poète et un moine qui a fondé le bouddhisme Shingon au Japon. Le moine est devenu le saint bouddhiste le plus important du pays et a été crédité de toutes sortes de miracles mineurs. Considéré comme un sculpteur doué et inventeur de l'écriture japonaise, il a également créé le chemin de pèlerinage le plus important encore suivi par les croyants aujourd'hui.
