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

Chapter 5: Sleeping Together

Ryuuki watched her walk to the window. He looked at the hand he used to hold hers. It always felt painful every time she does that. Every time she walks away from him. Every time she pushes him away. Every time she distances herself. It is kind of torture to harbor his painful longing inside. He wanted her to be by his side, to be near him where he could watch over her and ensure that she is safe.

He was in deep thought as he stared at his hand that he did not hear her footsteps. He was surprised when both Shuurei's hands held him by the shoulder and pushed him down the bed. He suddenly felt nervous.

Ryuuki turned red. They are the only ones in his room and Shuurei just closed the window. Now she had just pushed him down to the bed and she is looking down at him with intense eyes. It felt like she's gonna do something interesting. However, he felt so disappointed when Shuurei said, ''what are you thinking? I said sleep.''

But he noticed how her cheeks turned pink when she realized why he had turned red. She immediately let go of him and sat properly. ''Sleep,'' Shuurei repeated. ''It is already late.''

''If you will sleep with me Shuurei,'' Ryuuki innocently said. This time it is Shuurei who turned red.

''What?!''

Ryuuki smiled. ''What I mean is we sleep together. Just sleep in my room. Nothing else.''

''Nothing else?'' Shuurei said like a scared cat. Ryuuki cannot help but smile that she is flustered at what he said.

''Yeah. We will just sleep. But if you want more, I would be more than happy to – '' Ryuuki paused when she stood up. ''Hey, I am just joking. I just,'' he looked down. ''please don't leave me Shuurei.''

She was about to scold him but she saw that fear in his eyes again. She sighed. ''Seriously, what will happen to you if I am not around? You are hopeless.'' She sat on the bed.

''Then be around me always. That's why I want you to be my Queen. Actually you already are my Queen even if you have not agreed yet, I believe you will soon.''

''You sure are confident. Remember you have a deadline,'' Shuurei reminded him.

''Of course, I will not forget that. Thank you for coming here for me. I am so delighted my beautiful and brave Queen,'' Ryuuki said as he gazed at her eyes. He smiled when she blushed.

''What are you saying now? Just sleep already.''

Ryuuki caressed her chin and kissed her cheek. Then he whispered to her ear, ''good night Shuurei. I love you. I won't surrender.'' After that he lie down on the bed contentedly and closed his eyes.

Shuurei cannot say anything. She felt her face burning up especially where he touched her. She wanted to hit him but he had already closed his eyes and it is really hard to put him to sleep. She spent several minutes playing the erhu last time just to make him sleep.

Ryuuki opened his eyes and pointed the empty space beside him. ''Fine,'' Shuurei said and laid down beside him. 'I have slept with him before anyway. This guy is really troublesome even when he's sick. He cannot do anything weird right?'

Ryuuki held her hand and drifted off to sleep, Shuurei followed shortly. But in the middle of the night, Shuurei was awakened by Ryuuki's voice.

''Stop! Kill me instead. Don't hurt Shuurei. Stop!'' he screamed in his sleep. The doors immediately burst open and Shuuei entered with a drawn sword.

''He is having a nightmare again,'' Shuurei said in explanation. She shook Ryuuki to wake him up.

''I see. That scared me. I thought someone attempted to do something horrible. His majesty had been like this lately. Screaming and turning in his bed, but he would not tell me about it. His majesty is in your care Shuurei-dono,'' Shuuei sheathed his sword again and left.

''Shuurei!'' Ryuuki said in his sleep; beads of sweat formed on his face.

''Ryuuki, wake up. I'm here. No one is going to hurt me.''

Ryuuki opened his eyes and the relief that flashed on his face was evident when he saw Shuurei but fear is apparent in his eyes. ''Shuurei you're alive,'' he said and hugged her tight. Tears flowed down his cheeks. He is trembling. Shuurei rubbed his back as she held him close to her too. She let him sob it all out.

'Why won't this nightmares just leave him in peace? How could he survive his nights if it is always like this?' she was about to cry too but stopped herself.

Sometimes, dreams are even more cruel than days in battle. Nightmares could haunt you 'til you die without knowing you are dying. In war, you knew when you would die and you know what is happening and what is not. While dreams trick you with a mixture of reality and lies that can turn your nights into torture. And that is exactly what is happening to Ryuuki again, especially that his childhood had been so lonely.

''I'm here beside you Ryuuki. I am not going anywhere,'' Shuurei reassured the emperor. ''You can feel my heartbeat right. I am not going to die on you either.''

''That's a promise?'' the emperor asked as he gazed at her brown eyes. He looked like a child wanting reassurance. Shuurei's heart went out to him. This emperor is always doing his best to look calm, confident and strong when he is with other people. That is his job as emperor. So he could never let anyone see this side of him. But right now Shuurei is seeing it. A child asking for reassurance that someone important to him will not leave him behind to be all alone in the dark again.

''Yes, Ryuuki. I will watch and support you as you lead Saiunkoku to progress. I will watch as you rise above the people's expectations and be their excellent Emperor. I will see all your accomplishments and help you up in your downfalls,'' Shuurei said with conviction. She nearly said, 'I will be your Queen if that is necessary.' But she knew it would only raise his hopes up and she should not decide that matter just like that so she held that back. ''You can come to me every time you want to cry in frustration. It is your strength that you can cry like this instead of letting it out on other people.''

''Thank you, Shuurei.''

''Can you go back to sleep?''

''Yes, since you're here.'' He laid back on the bed. Shuurei sighed and laid down too. She had just closed her eyes when she felt Ryuuki turn. ''Can I listen to your heartbeat?'' he asked for permission.

Shuurei sighed. ''Fine.''

''What a beautiful sound. My nightmare won't haunt me if I can clearly hear this while I sleep.'' Ryuuki innocently let his head rest on Shuurei's chest as he listened to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Shuurei had no energy left to scold him. She fell asleep before she knew it. She unconsciously wrapped her arms protectively around Ryuuki. That made him smile that he fell asleep in contentment. This time, his sleep is peaceful. He dreamed of kissing Shuurei and with her kissing him back.

While the two are sound asleep, Shuuei checked them before he went to sleep. He left with a smile on his face. ''His Majesty would surely have higher chances now.''

Next Chapter: Morning Glory