Work Text:
"His Holiness has been in the gardens for over an hour," the guard said.
"This is unusual?" Ray asked.
"His Holiness likes to spend time in the gardens, but an hour --"
"Right," said Ray. "You have eyes on him?"
"Someone always in hearing distance, if not direct line of sight, Your Eminence."
When Ray found Vincent, he was sitting on a bench, looking up at a tall tree. Setting sunlight bathed the turning leaves, orange on yellow.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he said. "It was Thomas' favorite."
Ray looked. The branches spread over their heads, holding and scattering the light.
inspired by
深草の野辺の桜し心あらば
今年ばかりは墨染めに咲け
O, cherry tree, if you have heart,
Just this year, bloom in black
from 古今和歌集
(kokin wakashū
Songs Old and New
edited 905AD)