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

Chapter 38: Seiran's Defeat

Seiran and Jyuusan's duel have started. They are to demonstrate a duel where one have hidden weapons while the other do not. Shuuei, Ryuuki, and the two women from the Inner Palace watched from a considerable distance where they could not be noticed.

Jyuusan was the first to attack. She used both her swords, but Seiran could parry each and every of her blows. Seiran wondered how she would use hidden weapons if her hands are full. The fight had become heated up when Jyuusan suddenly dropped both her swords and yelled 'Shuurei-chan' in a cheerful voice and run past him. He turned and realized that Shuurei is indeed there. She had just arrive with a basket in her hand.

''What do you think you're doing suddenly running off?'' Seiran said in an annoyed tone. Seiran was about to talk to Shuurei but was cut off.

''What?!'' Jyuusan yelled and threw a dagger at him when she caught him off guard. He was able to parry it with his sword though since he saw it coming.

''Hey that's underhanded. You really intend to kill me?'' Seiran complained. The aim was his chest. If he was not able to parry it, it could have killed him. Shuuei and Ryuuki are impressed. Jyuusan's aim was perfect. If it wasn't Seiran, he could have died. Now they understood why the others who are supposed to assist Jyuusan resigned after helping her once to demonstrate. 'She's a dangerous woman,' Seiran thought.

''I'm the enemy right? One should not let their guard down because the enemy dropped their sword. There may be hidden tricks. For instance using someone dear to you. In the battlefield, there's no such thing as backhanded. People thirst for blood to save themselves. Not everyone have the principle to fight honorably and die an honorable death. The enemy may use anyone to throw you off,'' Jyuusan stated for the soldiers watching. Then went back to chatting with Shuurei cheerfully. She's right. Seiran had experienced that as a child. She observed that Seiran was distracted at Shuurei's presence.

''Jyuusan shouldn't you finish your duties first? I came early to watch you,'' Shuurei said. Shuurei had promised to have relaxing tea with Jyuusan today since during Fridays, Jyuusan said that she especially get more exhausted than usual. It was because Seiran's schedule to come are Fridays and they always duel even after demonstrations.

''Oh don't mind it. I am carrying out my tasks perfectly,'' Jyuusan replied with a sweet smile.

''Tsk,'' Seiran said in annoyance and sheathed his sword. Jyuusan sensed that Seiran had lowered his guard again, thinking that the match is over. She threw another blade. Seiran barely heard the whistling sound of the blade and was able to dodge it at the last second. He did not even feel murderous intent but it was perfectly aimed in the middle of his forehead. Everyone gasped as a few locks of hair from Seiran dropped to the ground and the blade that he barely managed to dodge was impaled deeply at the tree behind him.

''I knew my sister is good but I never thought she could do that to Seiran,'' Shuuei said in praise.

''Is that really Jyuusan?'' Ryuuki said in disbelief as he stared at Seiran's hair which dropped on the ground. Shuurei who is standing right beside Jyuusan was stunned and did not know what to say.

''I win,'' Jyuusan declared like it was nothing.

Seiran's face was ashen. He could not believe that today, Jyuusan nearly killed him twice in a row. ''That seriously could have killed me,'' he said in a stern voice directly looking at Jyuusan like she was the only person there.

''I knew you could dodge it.'' Jyuusan have used Shuurei as a decoy to make him lower his guard.

''Did you plan all of it?'' Seiran muttered under his breath.

''No. It's a mere coincidence that Shuurei-chan came early to see me,'' Jyuusan said with a smile.

''How could you suddenly use people out of the blue in a demonstration?'' Seiran said in an angry voice.

''I warned you before I did it,'' Jyuusan reminded him. Seiran recalled what she said before he sheathed his sword. He thought Jyuusan was referring to when she threw the dagger. He did not notice that it was a warning that there is something more. ''It was a perfect demonstration.''

Seiran stared at her in disbelief. She really is dangerous. She was so calm after doing that to him. He had never lost to a woman in battle. He had met women assassins but he was able to defeat them.

''See? If you let down your guard because the enemy lowered his guard you may end up dead. It must have been done on purpose to lure you to let your guard down too. And if you sheath your sword because your enemy have started talking sweet, you may not even realize you are already dead,'' Jyuusan said to the new women members of the military. Even the ones they have already trained before are amazed at the feat she just did.

''And if you swoon because your enemy is someone like him who has a pretty face, you will totally be annihilated. People with pretty faces can be deceitful. He may look to be just a pretty face but he is far stronger than me. If I did not do what I did, I could have died several times already,'' Jyuusan continued mercilessly. ''That's all for today. You are dismissed.'' They all applauded Jyuusan before leaving and Seiran felt embarrassed as he picked up the locks of hair that was cut by Jyuusan's blade.

''Sorry Shuurei-chan, I used you against him without permission. I even made you witness someone dear to you nearly hurt,'' Jyuusan sincerely apologized to Shuurei when everyone else had left.

''It's alright. I was actually amazed. You're so cool Jyuusan! I never thought I would see Seiran get defeated by a woman,'' Shuurei said and Seiran coughed. Shuurei heard him. ''Uhm, I mean, you're not hurt right? Seiran?''

''Gomen (sorry), Seiran. Maybe I should give you a haircut,'' Jyuusan offered. She did not expect him to be unable to dodge it completely.

''Huh? You might stab instead of cutting my hair,'' Seiran said with a glare.

''That was impressive Jyuusan-hime,'' Shuuei said as they revealed themselves.

''I almost could not believe I saw the same Jyuusan-hime who had stayed in the Inner Palace,'' Ryuuki praised too. Seiran gripped the hair that was cut. He is the one who nearly got killed and yet they are all ignoring him. His blood specially boiled that Shuuei saw what happened.

''I couldn't have done that if Shuurei-chan did not appear.''

''I want a rematch little monster,'' Seiran said with a glower.

''Eh? I'm tired. Let's do it next time. I might end up dead at your first blow oh mighty prince,'' Jyuusan said and hid behind Shuurei.

''You play deviously,'' Seiran observed.

''I did not intend cut your beautiful hair Your Highness. Please forgive me,'' Jyuusan said with a bow and it only annoyed Seiran even more. ''How would I know that you have lowered your guard so much? I did not even know I could aim perfectly,'' Jyuusan said innocently.

''Excuses. Just admit that you wanted to eliminate me already,'' Seiran insisted. But he remembered that he did not feel any killing intent. Jyuusan doesn't look like she is lying too. 'What a dangerous talent,' he thought. When it comes to strength, Jyuusan will not be able to defeat Seiran but she could win against him through other means.

After that, everyone ended up joining Shuurei and Jyuusan for tea.

Next Chapter: Accident