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

Chapter 47: Silently Bleeding

Seiran felt Jyuusan shiver at what the bandit said they planned to do to her. He held her tight in his arms to remind her she is safe now. Jyuusan took a deep breath to calm herself. Then she said to reassure her soldiers, ''See, cowards like them did not succeed. Thanks to all of you for coming for me. Chastity is safe,'' she reassured them with a smile. Everyone was finally able to breathe. Even Seiran did not notice that he had been holding his breathe.

''Jyuusan!'' Shuuei's voice echoed in the silence and they saw him running in an unbelievable speed towards them. He was followed by Gen. Haku.

There are two new soldiers with Jyuusan when she was abducted. Jyuusan protected them and made them escape and hide to go and call for back up since she sensed that bandits are dangerous and the two with her had just joined the army. They cannot fight properly yet; they may end up dead. Jyuusan fought but was totally outnumbered by bandits and was knocked unconscious when she protected her two soldiers.

One of the soldier she asked to hide, secretly trailed behind the bandits while the other went to calling reinforcements. They had heard that the bandits planned to rape Jyuusan and make her their cook to show that women should just be inside the house doing household chores and waiting for the husband. That made them furious. The other called their companions first who are near to quickly go to where Jyuusan was abducted to meet up with the one who trailed. And then went to the generals and guided them here.

The enraged ladies though at hearing that their general was abducted to be raped and made a cook and insult her, did all the job before the other generals arrived. Shuuei and Haku are amazed that the bandits had been toppled in such a short time. The lady soldiers really loved Jyuusan.

''Are you alright?'' Shuuei asked holding Jyuusan's hand. Haku went to commanding the soldiers to clean out and investigate the nearby areas.

''Don't worry Nii-sama. They did not succeed,'' she replied calmly. Shuuei sighed in relief and ruffled her hair but he is still worried. He knew she must be shaken to have experienced that again.

''Those idiots! Are they challenging the Ran Clan?'' Shuuei said with a sharp look as he took in the scene.

''I'm fine now,'' Jyuusan reassured. But Shuuei and Seiran both knew she is lying.

Shuuei gave a glance at Seiran and said, ''please take care of my sister. We'll take it from here.'' Seiran nodded since he knew what he meant. Seiran's mansion is the nearest from here.

Two hours after Seiran brought Jyuusan to his mansion, the drug used to Jyuusan lost its effect. She immediately asked to use the bath which had been prepared for her. She has asked for lots of hot water. After more than an hour that she did not go out, Seiran got worried and went to check her. He heard her sobbing so he silently waited for her. But then, he heard her vomit several times.

''Jyuusan are you alright?'' he asked. He clenched his fists. They must have done something to her. He knew they must have touched her body that's why she is staying too long in the bath, to clean herself from the hands that touched her. He remembered the kiss marks he saw and gritted his teeth. ''Please tell me if there is anything you need.''

''I'm fine. I'll be there in a short while.'' Jyuusan replied but her trembling voice said otherwise. Seiran could not leave. He sat down near the bath and his chest tightened in anger and pain as he listened to her sob in the bath. He had never seen Jyuusan like this. He never knew she could cry so much too. He had always seen her as strong and she proved her strength as she smiled to reassure her comrades despite being in the most pain. She had always been cheerful and friendly with the military officers and everyone else. She was only loud and cruel to him. He'd rather be yelled with so many insults from her than hear her sobbing like this.

He blamed himself for what happened. If only he came earlier, if only he always helped her in training the soldiers, if only he did his job of protecting the soldiers from threats and insults like this. That is part of his job after all. Once Jyuusan cannot handle it alone to protect the newcomers, he is to interfere. But he wasn't there when he was needed. That was the only time Jyuusan needed him, and he was not there. He felt utterly useless. He had wanted to be useful and helpful to this woman. But he was not able to do that after all. And now she is pain. 'It's my fault,' he thought.

After another hour, Jyuusan got out of the bath and saw Seiran waiting for her. He quickly stood and gave her a cup of warm tea. ''Thanks. Sorry for worrying you,'' Jyuusan said. Her eyes are red from crying.

''Let's go and eat. You must be hungry,'' Seiran invited.

Jyuusan looked away. ''I don't think I can eat.'' Sadness can be heard from her voice.

Seiran looked at her. She looked fragile for the first time. Not physically but emotionally. She looked like she is about to break. What happened to her reawakened a sadness she had buried deep within her. A wound from her past merged with the present and they bled together, exhausting her tired mind.

''Can I ask you a favor?'' she asked in a weak voice.

''Sure,'' Seiran quickly replied. He would do anything if it would help turn her back to normal.

''Kiss me,'' Jyuusan said in an even weaker voice than before. It was almost a whisper. She did not even look at him when she said it. Seiran stared at her for a while. ''It's alright if you can't,'' Jyuusan said and started to walk. 'Who would want to have a woman touched by someone else,' she thought.

If she is asking him to kiss her to remove the one who assaulted her in her memory, then she must be thinking that it would be better if it is Seiran that she would see in her mind. Seiran quickly held her hand. He lifted her chin and kissed her but his kiss was empty despite how much he wanted to help her now. It does not have anything. It did not mirror the pain he felt in his chest nor the fury he had been trying to control. It did not show how much he cared for her too.

''Not enough,'' she whispered. Her eyes are close. ''Get out of my mind! I don't want to remember,'' she muttered under her breath when she recalled what happened and hit the wall but Seiran caught her fist.

''Think only of me,'' he said and kissed her again. This time not just a peck. He kissed her warmly this time. Gentle at first. Then he parted her lips and roamed her mouth. He kissed her aggressively and demandingly as he thought of how a kiss would be if you are forcing someone. He acted like he is forcing her.

''Think only of me,'' he reminded her and kissed her ravenously as if he is a lustful man asking for gratification. Jyuusan was not able to keep up and he dominated. He wrapped her in his arms tightly and continued kissing her like he is a rapist. Then he returned to kissing her gently and sensually until when they had to break for air. He still held her in his arms when he asked, ''how about that?''

Jyuusan did not reply for a long time. She caught her breath first. Seiran thought he must have overdone it. ''You really are like lewd man,'' Jyuusan said and he sweat-dropped. ''Don't look like that. It's supposed to be a compliment since at least the image was changed. Thanks, maybe I can eat now,'' she continued. It was effective. She only thought of Seiran as he kissed her gently then fiercely and then sensually, and it made her see him when she recalls a kiss; not the bandit.

''Let's go and eat then. I'm starving. You can insult me later for kissing you like that,'' Seiran invited and led her to the kitchen. She smiled coyly at him for the first time as he held her hand as they walked.

Next Chapter: Midnight