The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 2: Loneliness

Why is she on the same bed with Ryuuki? She was seated on the floor when she fell asleep. Someone must have carried her. She wondered who it might be. But right now, what is most important is this man's situation. She slowly seated herself so as not to wake him.

Shuurei looked at Ryuuki's face, he is sweating much more than he was when she fell asleep. His breathing is ragged and heavy. His skin has paled though his cheek are flushed and he looked like he is in pain. His fever has gone up again. 'This is not good,' she thought.

His grip is not as tight as before so she was able to free her hand. Gladly everything she needed is in the room. Water and towels and some medicine will do. She tended to Ryuuki. After what seemed like hours, his temperature finally lowered a bit.

Shuurei sighed in relief. ''How could he let himself be sick like this?'' She was sure everyone is worried too. She took the used towels and the water and left his room. She saw Jyuusan, Seiran, and Shuuei.

''How is the emperor?'' Seiran asked.

''Just a while ago his fever had gone high again but it's fine now.''

''I see. I just dropped by. I'll return to my post now,'' Seiran said in relief and left instantly.

''Did you have a nice sleep?'' Shuuei teasingly asked.

''Brother,'' Princess Jyuusan chided.

''Was it you Shuuei?'' the other princess said with raised eyebrows.

''What are you talking about Shuurei-dono?''

''Are you the one who carried me beside His Majesty?''

''Eh? I thought you voluntary slept beside His Majesty,'' Shuuei replied.

''It could not be Seiran or Ensei either. I ensured no one is to enter the Emperor's room,'' Jyuusan added.

''That's how we saw both of you – sleeping so sweetly; when we thought of checking on the emperor's condition,'' Shuuei teasingly said but with honest eyes.

''Did you just say 'we'? Who was with you?'' Shuurei is starting to be nervous about this. They saw her sleeping with Ryuuki. 'This really is going to be complicated,' she thought. If no one else entered the room, then it must be Ryuuki himself. 'Hmmm. He must have woken up. But how could he carry me in that condition? He looked like he cannot even move an inch.'

''Be rest assured. It was only Seiran, Ensei, Kouyuu, my sister here, and me.''

Shuurei sighed in relief. At least it was only them. If others would know, rumors would surely spread and they might use it against Ryuuki or her. ''Well, now then. Dinner time is near. His Majesty has to eat.''

''Right. I noticed he had not been eating well this past week,'' Jyuusan supplied. ''If it is your cooking, I believe he would it as much as he can.''

Shuurei clenched her fist. ''That stupid king! How can he neglect his health like that? Oops, I did not mean the stupid thingy.''

''It's rather unique how you express your worry princess. Why won't you just go and give him a healing kiss or something?'' Ensei said. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere and surprised the princess.

''Ensei,'' Shuurei chided. ''Stop scaring me like that will you?'' She made dinner for everyone instead of just Ryuuki. It is already dark when she brought food to his room. Jyuusan had let Shuurei do her job.

''Ryuuki. Ryuuki, wake up.'' She lightly tapped his shoulder.

Ryuuki slowly opened his eyes. ''Shuurei?'' he closed his eyes again. 'Did I really overexert myself? I did my best not to go and see Shuurei. Now I miss her so much that I am hallucinating,' he thought.

''It's dinner time. Sit up, you have to eat to regain your strength.''

He opened his eyes again. ''Shuurei,'' Ryuuki whispered with eyes filled with wonder as he cupped her face. Shuurei was frozen as he run his thumb on her lips. She thought he is going to try and kiss her again but he didn't. ''My Shuurei. So near yet so far.'' Ryuuki said and let go of her. His hands dropped on his sides and his eyes closed. He wanted to see her. He missed her so much but he had to finish his work first. He cannot afford slacking off again.

''Ryuuki look at me,'' Shuurei demanded. He opened his eyes again and Shuurei gasped at the loneliness she saw in them. His eyes looked so mournful that her heart almost broke just looking at it. If Ryuuki had not closed it again she would have cried. 'Since when did Ryuuki's eyes look like that?' His eyes are full of longing, longing for something he cannot have as an emperor. She denied knowing what that thing could be.

''Are you alright Ryuuki,'' Shuurei wanted to ask that question. But she already knew the answer. So she said instead, ''Sit up and eat. If you can't move I'll feed you.''

''I am not hungry,'' Ryuuki said without opening his eyes; still thinking that he is having a dream.

Shuurei was surprised. Ryuuki is indeed sick if he did not immediately say yes when she said she is going to feed him. She sighed and held one of his hands. ''Ryuuki stop being so stubborn. After I go to all the trouble of cooking your meal you are going to waste it? Fine I'll just give it to Seiran or Shuuei then.''

Ryuuki suddenly opened his eyes. ''I'll eat it.'' Then he stared at Shuurei and blinked for several times. ''Wait. Shuurei? You're for real?''

''Huh?''

''I – I thought I was just hallucinating,'' he gazed at her even more and was so delighted to see that she came for him. The worried look on her face made him happy and guilty at the same time. ''It was not just a dream then when I saw you asleep here,'' he said as he looked at the side of the bed she had slept at. A smile curved his lips.

''So it was you who laid me down here?'' Shuurei asked.

''Uhm, yeah. You might get sick if you sleep sitting on the floor so I had no choice. I thought I was just dreaming though,'' Ryuuki explained.

''You managed to carry me in that condition?''

''Yeah. You have turned so light. Are you eating and sleeping well?''

''Says the one who should be eating. You must have miscalculated since you're not well. So you'd better eat now,'' Shuurei said to divert the topic. She had heard that Ryuuki had been working even during evenings. He worked nights without sleep.

''Feed me.''

''You can't move?''

''Just kidding. I'll eat if you dine with me. I know you haven't eaten yet either.''

''Fine, if that's how you want it. I cannot allow you take medicine with an empty stomach.'' She was relieved too that the expression in his eyes changed a little. It is not as lonely as before anymore.

Next Chapter: Nightmares