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

Chapter 3: Nightmares

Shuurei played the erhu (a two-stringed violin) for Ryuuki, until when he fell asleep. She had already notified Seiran and her father that she would not be home tonight. She would sleep in one of the rooms in the palace. She was just about to open the door when she heard Ryuuki say something.

''No. Don't leave me. Please stay with me Shuurei,'' Ryuuki said in his sleep. He felt alone in a dark place and the coldness is eating him.

Shuurei went back to his side. ''What's the matter?''

''Don't me leave alone. Please, Shuurei.'' He reached out in the air. He is sweating and turning in his sleep.

Shuurei held his hands. She knew that he must be having a nightmare. ''I'm right here Ryuuki. You're not alone.''

''Shuurei. Please stay with me. I cannot live without you.'' Ryuuki held her hand tight. ''No. No. Shuurei. Please don't go.'' This time tears started to flow from his tightly shut eyes.

Shuurei realized she has to wake him or else this would not stop. 'Right when he just fell asleep, it took so long to make him sleep.' She sighed.

''Ryuuki, wake up.'' She shook him. ''Ryuuki!'' That's when he woke up. Still with tears in his eyes.

''Shuurei,'' he said; relief is in his voice but his eyes is filled with fear. He suddenly wrapped her in a tight embrace. ''I thought it was real.''

''I'm right here Ryuuki. I'm not going anywhere,'' she comforted him. She did not have to ask what the dream is. She knew it was something horrible. She does not have to make him recall it.

''Warm,'' Ryuuki said in relief as he hugged Shuurei tighter. She hugged him back to reassure him she was real. They remained that way for several minutes until when Shuurei cannot take it anymore. She had been waiting for him to drift back to sleep that way so it would be easy to return him to bed but he remained awake. She pulled away, wiped his tears, and said, ''shall I play the erhu for you?''

''I'd rather hold you in my arms. But your music always soothes me too.'' He does not want to sleep if his nightmares would haunt him again. But he is rather feeling dizzy and exhausted.

''Now just lay back and rest okay,'' Shuurei said with a calming smile and started playing.

''You will not leave me, right?''

''I won't. I promise.'' She caught him staring at the side of his bed she had slept on. ''Ryuuki, what are you thinking?'' she said with a raised eyebrow.

''Um, nothing. I just thought that this brings back memories of when you were my wife. I regret not sleeping in your room ever since you came to the inner palace.''

''You know what Ryuuki, you should just sleep already.'' Shuurei said in an annoyed tone.

''Yes ma'am.''

Shuurei played and played the erhu but Ryuuki did not fall asleep. She watched him carefully and saw that he seem to be reluctant to sleep. His eyes are fully open. If he is not looking at the ceiling, he is staring at her. She stopped playing.

''What is it Ryuuki? You can tell me what your nightmare was if it is still bothering you.''

Ryuuki who was lying on his side directly facing towards her turned. He laid straight on his bed to avoid Shuurei's inquisitive eyes. He did not want her to see how lonely and afraid he was. It would only make her worry.

But what he did not know is that she already saw it the instant he opened his eyes when she waked him. She saw how afraid he is of losing her; how lonely he is when she is not beside him. It made her feel sorry of the times she had been so stubborn and always exposed herself to danger. It must have been so hard for him to just stay in the palace and wait for her return.

A cold gust of wind blew and Ryuuki hugged himself. He looked up and saw that a window is open. He stood up to close it and realized that his knees are shaking and he felt nauseous. He lost his balance.

''Ryuuki!'' Shuurei ran to his side and held him before he would fall. But she underestimated his weight and so they both tumbled on the bed. At least he did not fall flat on the floor with his face first.

They fell in a really awkward position. Ryuuki was able to prop himself so he would not crush Shuurei with his full weight. But still, he is on top of her

''Are you alright?'' Ryuuki asked her as his arms started to shake.

''That's my line. Don't push yourself so hard. Just tell me if you need anything,'' Shuurei chided. Ryuki was looking at her eyes when his arms finally gave up. His eyes slowly closed as he started to lose consciousness. He fully dropped on top of her.

Shuurei got the wrong idea at first. She thought that he was going to kiss her since his eyes slowly closed as his face drew nearer to hers. But as she looked closer, she realized that he is losing consciousness. His head fell to her shoulders.

''Ryuuki!''

The doors suddenly burst open. ''Did something happen?'' Jyuusan asked with worry. Seiran and Shuuei entered with her. They were shocked at what they saw. Ryuuki is on top of Shuurei and his lips are on her collarbone. Shuurei's hands are wrapped around him and one is on his hair. One of Ryuuki's hands is on her shoulder while the other is on her hair. That's how they interpreted what they saw.

Shuurei blushed when she realized how sensual their position looked like. The three immediately averted their eyes and bowed their heads. ''Were sorry for the intrusion. We thought something else happened,'' they said in unison and went out really fast.

''Hey, wait. You got it wrong. Ryuuki lost consciousness,'' she said but they had already distanced themselves from the room of the emperor.

Next Chapter: Wake up Ryuuki