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

Chapter 32: Jyuusan's Payback

Jyuusan decided to walk outside to inhale the sweet scent of the fresh wind. She did not notice that she wandered away from the inn as she walked without a destination. She just enjoyed the lush trees, the grasses, and the exotic flowers. She did not realize that she had gone deep in the forest.

She suddenly sensed someone watching her from behind. She slowly turned her back and saw Seiran glaring at her with murderous intent. ''So you finally noticed little monster,'' Seiran said with a smile that almost made Jyuusan shiver.

''What's with this extra monstrousness? You finally felt like showing your true self deceitful monster?'' Jyuusan challenged despite feeling a shiver run down her spine. She would not back down even to the mighty Prince Seien.

''What did you do to milady?'' Seiran seriously asked. There is a dark aura coming from him.

''Oh, are you envious of me deceitful monster? I did something you cannot do. You see, even if you are close to Shuurei-chan, I can do things to her that you cannot,'' Jyuusan said proudly. She rolled one finger to a lock of her long hair which is still dripping wet.

Both of them are about to draw their swords for a duel. But they realized that they are in their bathrobes and their swords are left inside the inn. They positioned for hand to hand combat instead. Jyuusan is about to kick Seiran in the face when she remembered that she had cut her bathrobe short. If she kicked, much of her skin can be revealed and if he caught her foot he may see 'it'. She blushed and walked backwards. Seiran's look made her shiver.

Seiran was too focused on punishing her that he did not notice her clothing and her blush. ''What? Are you surrendering? I intend to punish you a lot.'' He followed her as she kept walking backwards.

They both did not notice that if Jyuusan took another step, she would step on a trap. They only knew it when she took a step back and something pricked her foot. The next second, a rope was wrapped tight around her ankle and she was pulled. Jyuusan flailed her arms as she tried to hold onto something. Seiran was about to grab her hand but it was too late.

''Jyuusan-hime!'' Shusui said in an alarmed tone.

''What's the matter Shusui-dono, what happened to my sister?'' Shuuei asked with worry. ''Did Seiran really do something terrible?''

Shusui did not say anything, she kept staring into space. Shuuei immediately knew that she is seeing something he cannot. Shusui staggered and he caught her. ''Shusui-dono, what's wrong?'' he asked Shusui whom he is already carrying. She did not even react when he lifted her up. She had turned pale. She is still in Kiyou and using her clairvoyance magic is dangerous. He shook Shusui. ''Shusui! Shusui-dono,''

Seiran looked up to Jyuusan who is hanged upside down a tree. One of her foot was wrapped on a rope and she is flailing her arms. 'I think I just said a while ago that I would do this to her,' he thought. Then he blushed in embarrassment when he saw her robe had slid down and much of her skin was revealed. Before he could see something else though, Jyuusan covered it and pulled up her robe to cover it and held it tight.

''Close your eyes! You pervert,'' Jyuusan yelled as she tied her robe. Seiran closed his eyes quickly and he felt heat rush to his face. He realized that Jyuusan is not wearing any undergarment since she just came from the bath and wandered. He himself left just wearing a bathrobe since he tailed her after she left the bath. ''Oww...ow. You damned rope! Don't tighten around my feet,'' Jyuusan wriggled. She is trying to reach up and untie the rope but the instant the rope around her feet is removed, she would fall from quite a height.

Seiran looked up again. He was further alarmed when he saw blood flow from her foot. He noticed that the rope is indeed tightening around her ankle. He has to move her down quick or else her ankle might get crushed. ''Don't move. You'll only make the rope tighten faster.''

Jyuusan stopped moving. ''Happy now?'' she said with double meaning. She was asking if he was satisfied that she did as he had said since she never once obeyed him and if he was contented seeing her like that.

''Tsk,'' Seiran muttered. He looked back to the inn. He cannot see it but he knew it is quite far. Jyuusan had wandered to the forest. If he went back to get his sword, Jyuusan's suffering would be prolonged and who knows what will happen if he left her. The one who set the trap might be hiding somewhere. He regretted not getting anything sharp with him. He look around for a sharp edged stone. ''Bingo,'' he muttered when he saw one.

Jyuusan did not move, she knew what he is planning. She watched as Seiran aimed and threw the stone with so much force. The rope was cut and Seiran realized that the rope is old but still stern. Jyuusan fell and Seiran caught her. They tumbled on the ground.

Shusui returned to her senses and realized that she is carried by someone. She blushed. ''Please put me down General Ran.''

''You will collapse,'' Shuuei stated. He knew with just one glance that it was true. ''What happened?'' he asked as he carried her back to the inn.

''It's alright now. She's safe,'' Shusui breathed. Shuuei looked at her, pressing for more information. ''She wandered too far from the inn and reached the forest. She was caught in an animal trap used by hunters. It was old though. They must be heading back now'' Shusui explained.

''I see,'' Shuuei sighed in relief. He knew Seiran must have helped her. He hated being indebted to that person but he is glad Jyuusan is safe. He wondered why Jyuusan fell for such a trap. With her skills, she should have noticed it. He settled Shusui on a chair and made tea for her, her complexion has not yet gone back to normal.

Next Chapter: Mending Wounds