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

Chapter 50: Sword Dance

Jyuusan's troop which consisted of women was never again underestimated by the militaries who came with Grand Gen. Haku and Shuuei to the forest where Jyuusan was taken. The bandits were strong and they were all amazed that the women army which consisted of only 25 to 30 singlehandedly defeated the bandits who are far larger in number.

Jyuusan and her troop of women became even more popular and respected in the army. Some had tried joining the training that Jyuusan gives to her troop to see if the rumors were true and surrendered as they discovered how hard those women train every day. They are stronger than the other military officers now.

Months later, a banquet was held as commemoration for the time when the army was officially established. Jyuusan was asked to perform the legendary sword dance. Members of the army and officials are gathered in the celebration. Hearing that General Jyuusan, the princess of the Ran clan and the likewise the first woman in the military will perform a dance, so many people had gathered.

Everyone turned silent when the drums started to sound and a flute was played. Everyone was surprised when what they saw when the curtains were opened is a princess of exquisite beauty. Jyuusan is wearing a princess' clothing and her hair is beautifully styled with glamourous traditional hairpins and her neck and wrists are adorned with expensive jewelry. She also used a little make up. Jyuusan has her eyes closed and she stood there in front of everyone with the confidence and beauty of a woman and the courage and legacy of a soldier. She is captivating that she took their breath away.

'Magnificent,' Seiran admitted as he silently gazed. And Shuurei who is standing beside him was obviously staring at Jyuusan in adoration. She came too not wanting to miss this chance to see her friend dance.

The people gathered there were confused. ''Is she really going perform the sword dance like that?'' they asked each other. What they expected to see was a military official in armor. ''What if she cut herself?'' some said. Shuuei smiled seeing the reaction of the people. 'Don't underestimate my sister,' he thought.

Jyuusan slowly opened her eyes, opened a fan she was holding in her right hand, and she slowly raised that hand above her head as the music played. She glided like a princess towards the sword at the left side of the stage. She gracefully swirled around with the sound of the flute and drums and she stopped exactly beside the sword. She unsheathed it and danced like she is in the battlefield stabbing and slashing her enemies but with graceful and silent movements that awed the audience. She accompanied it with the fan. The way she moved with the sword showed that she is really skilled in using it.

She closed her eyes and swirled in the center of the stage with both arms stretch open in the air. She looked so beautiful and dangerous at the same time with the sword in her hand. She portrayed how even a beautiful woman can handle the sword.

The music stopped and everyone gasped when she suddenly opened her eyes and stabbed in front of her with so much force that the sword whistled. The people in the front row flinched, fearing for their lives. The music started to play again and she slowly closed the fan in her right hand as she let it caress the surface of the sword. When it was totally closed, she slowly moved her right hand towards her back. She opened the fan with a loud sound and suddenly threw it with force.

The audience gasped in fear that they would be hit. It looked deadly. But Jyuusan did not just throw it randomly. She aimed at someone. She smiled when an astounded Seiran caught the fan. It could have cut his face if he was not able to catch it. The people were amazed that she could throw that far. Seiran is quite at a distance.

The music changed again and Jyuusan fetch her other sword in the right of the stage. This time, she performed elegantly with twin blades which danced with her dangerously but with the grace of a woman. Her movements were magnificent. They could not deny that she is a fine swordswoman. She closed her dance by mercilessly slashing a dummy beast in front of her with an X movement and it clattered to the ground. She sheathed back her twin sword. The audience applauded in awe.

A cold shiver run through Seiran's spine. He felt like he was the one slashed since Jyuusan was intently looking at him when she mercilessly slashed the dummy beast.

''What the heck was that?'' Seiran complained when she joined them.

''Seiran, what are you saying? She was magnificent,'' Shuurei chided.

''Really? Thank you Shuurei-chan,'' Jyuusan said with a smile, cutting Seiran.

''You're really amazing! I was thinking that I had fallen inlove then I remembered I'm a woman too. If I were a man I would be proposing by now,'' Shuurei exclaimed. The two giggled.

''I have to go and change first,'' Jyuusan informed.

''Eh? Why? You look so beautiful in these,'' Shuurei asked.

''That's why,'' Jyuusan replied and gave a glance behind her. Many of the military officials are staring at her in adoration. They have a blush on their cheeks and their eyes are saying 'please marry me.' They looked like they were intoxicated by her dance. ''The men will get drunk soon so it's dangerous.''

''Right, I'll accompany you to the changing room,'' Shuurei volunteered. Seiran followed them too. That's one thing he liked about Jyuusan. She does not let men have their way with her. She can be soft and gentle when she needs to but she can also turn cautious and untamed.

Seiran scowled at the men looking at Jyuusan and they looked away in fear. ''You really wanted to destroy my face that much? This fan have blades. It could have really killed me,'' Seiran reminded.

''I knew you would be able to catch it my dear Prince Seiran,'' Jyuusan said sweetly. Many of the military officers seeing Jyuusan talking with the formidable General Seiran instantly knew that if he is their rival they have zero percent hope of getting Jyuusan. He is not just very famous and skilled in almost everything he does. He is also very good-looking and masculine. He is very knowledgeable and his swordsmanship is something they cannot defeat. They were crestfallen to have such a daunting rival.

''Eh? You mean it was not part of the plan for Seiran to stand in that location and catch it?'' Shuurei was surprised.

''No. I saw him glaring at me so I threw it at him.'' When Shuurei heard Jyuusan say that, she was even more amazed that Jyuusan did it like it was part of the dance than worry about Seiran. Seiran was crestfallen.

Shuurei noticed and said, ''I was not worried since there's no way you cannot catch it right? But why were you glaring?''

''I wasn't glaring. I was just watching,'' Seiran protested. ''She was the one glaring at me when she slashed the dummy beast.''

''You were just in my field of vision,'' Jyuusan countered.

''Aren't you impressed by her dance? Everyone was awestruck but you did not even say any praise to her,'' Shuurei chided.

Seiran scratch his head and admitted. ''The dance was superb.'' Hearing that, Jyuusan contentedly smiled.

''What about how she looks?'' Shuurei pressed. Jyuusan looked at him.

''Stunning. You looked like a woman for the first time but you are still a little devil,'' Seiran said to drown out what he admitted. Jyuusan smiled sweetly at him and he shivered thinking that she must be planning something to embarrass him again.

''You really do not know how to praise women properly,'' the two said in unison and he sweat-dropped.

Shuuei and Ryuuki was observing Seiran's reactions from afar. They did not fail to notice that Jyuusan took Seiran's breath away. He intently watched her as she danced and he was completely mesmerized that he nearly did not catch the fan that Jyuusan threw. The two smiled at each other knowingly.

Next Chapter: On the Way