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

Chapter 22: Suicide

''Just what had you been up to? Why are you being chased by those women?'' Shuurei asked when she is finally able to breathe normally.

Ryuuki sighed. ''I was with Kouyuu and Shuuei to investigate something and we ended up in the redlight district different from Kogaro as we are gathering information. I accidentally insulted the leader of the women there.''

''Eh? And where is General Ran and Lord Kouyuu?''

''Either they are still being chased or they are laughing at me right now,'' Ryuuki said with a pout. He looked so cute the Shuurei giggled. ''Is it so funny?''

''I'm sorry,'' she said and further laughed when Ryuuki pouted even more. He looked so funny. ''What did you do that insulted their leader?''

Ryuuki disheveled his hair. ''Well, uhm...'' he sighed and looked down. ''Their leader offered to be the one to 'entertain' me in that sort of way and I declined her offer. She got so furious shortly after that.''

''I see. If it was Kouchou-san that had been refused, her followers would be so angry too. They must be after you to teach you a lesson.''

''Could you at least feel sympathy for me too and just not them,'' he muttered.

''What is the name of that district?''

''I did not notice. Shuuei said it is not popular either. I will never enter that place again. It's so scary,'' the young emperor replied as he remembered that many of the women there are too aggressive. It sent chills to his back. They really looked scary. But to men hungry for women, they may love that place. ''some of the women even said they are going to torture me all night,'' Ryuuki continued. His skin have paled.

''They really are different from Kogaro. What kind of torture would they do?'' Shuurei said innocently.

''They said it would be sweet torture. They said I should be thankful since it would be like paradise to a man. So in order for it to be torture they will simultaneously use me all night without rest. Another even said they will come at me at the same time – ''

''Hwuah!'' Shuurei covered his mouth as she finally understood what he is talking about. ''I don't want to hear anymore,'' Shuurei said with a flushed face.

''It was really scary. I thought if I would be caught I'd rather die than let them have their way with me.''

Shuurei hit him. ''Stop talking like that,'' she said seriously. ''You are the emperor of Saiunkoku. Don't you dare die on your people just like that. You will turn the country in chaos since you do not have an heir.''

''I know. But you could have at least said that you do not like me dying on you or something,'' Ryuuki sulked. ''You do not care for me at all.''

''Of course I do. But I will only a cowardly man just gives up on his life.''

''I was just kidding about that. Speaking of an heir, I do not need any if it is not from Shuurei. I will marry only Shuurei.''

'Liar,' Shuurei thought. 'You already have lots of women in the harem.' Then she remembered she had heard that Ryuuki already have a son. She silently wondered if it is true. ''I do not remember agreeing to that. And I thought you married Jyusan-hime?''

''I did not and I do not have to. I will do my best to until when I finally make you agree. I know it. I can feel that someday, you would agree to marry me,'' Ryuuki said with a smile despite his sulking just a while ago.

''What are you talking about?'' Shuurei thought this person had already forgotten about her. Why is he talking nonsense to her again? ''By the way, how does their leader look like that you rejected her so bluntly?

''She's pretty. But I do not care. I do not like to do it with her. I only want Shuurei. That's why I declined and I did it respectfully.''

''Don't involve me in such things. Go with the woman you kissed in public, she is beautiful.''

''I did not kiss her!'' Ryuuki instantly protested.

''Fine, if you say so. But you do not have to be so defensive if you are innocent.''

''That's because Shuurei is doubting me. You really are disappointed in me,'' Ryuki said and stood up without warning and dashed to the lake nearby.

'Is he committing suicide?' Shuurei thought as she quickly followed him. And before she could stop him, Ryuuki fully submerged himself in the water. 'Did he become this weird after four years?'

Shuuei and Kouyuu nearly gone out from behind the trees when they realized that the women that have been chasing Ryuuki are passing by and they could have seen him with Shuurei if he had not jump in the water. Now that Shuurei is standing alone beside the lake, they did not pay attention to her and just passed by.

Shuurei started to worry when Ryuuki still is not rising from the water. 'Did he become more foolish?' She was about to jump in too when he suddenly rose and gasped for air. He ensured that the women chasing him were already in a considerable distance would not be able to see him before he showed himself to Shuurei.

''What do you think you're doing? Don't just suddenly leave me behind,'' she said with gritted teeth. ''And if you are trying to catch a fish, you are a total failure.''

''Eh? You want a bath too?'' Ryuuki said innocently. ''I was just thinking I really needed a bath as soon as possible to wash away my impurity as many girls had been clinging to me during the times I was cornered.''

Shuurei hit him. She had been worried for nothing. 'This stupid man!'

''I see. You do not like women clinging to me. I dislike it too. I swear all the time I had just been thinking of Shuurei.''

''You are misunderstanding things. Will you stop acting so weird? You are dripping wet now. You may catch a cold if you do not change immediately. Let's head to my house it is quite near.''

''I'm glad you are worried about me. But wait for just a few minutes,'' he said and pointed the bunch of women who are walking away.

Shuurei now understood why he jumped to the lake and said, ''I'm not worried. I just do not want it to be my fault if you get sick.''

''Hmm, are you jealous that someone else kissed me?'' he hopefully said.

''I'm not.''

''Shuurei is still so cruel. How could you say it so bluntly?''

''And you are still a foolish child. Just walk quickly will you? You cannot stay too long in those wet clothes. You can have your bath at home.''

Ryuuki smile at this and caught up to her. She is worried for him. ''You are really angry? I did not kiss that woman nor do I like any of the women who chased me.''

''I don't care. And I am not jealous at all. You can go with them.''

''It hurts to hear you say it like that. But I wonder why I feel like you are lying.'' That made Shuurei pause as something dawned on her. Ryuuki caught up to her and her eyes revealed to him what she did not want to say. He smiled at her knowingly. Shuuei and Kouyou are following them the whole time.

She glared at him. ''I'm not.'' Then she resumed walking. They reached Shuurei's residence and Ryuuki bathed as Shuurei washed his wet clothes. 'Why is he not even surprised that I am already in Kiyou?'

Next Chapter: First Real Kiss