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

Chapter 73: Poisoned Kiss

Ryuuki wondered if Seiran would ever marry as he watched Kouyuu and Shuuei talk happily about their wives. He thought that his brother should get married soon too. ''Brother, when are you going to marry Jyuusan?'' he inquired, assuming that it would be her that Seiran would marry.

''What are you talking about?'' Seiran said with a scary look.

''Eh? Aren't you going to marry her?'' Ryuuki asked.

''And why would I marry her? She's a little devil who smiles sweetly when she's putting me in trouble.''

''Eh? Really? But you two seem to get along well,'' Ryuuki honestly said. The way they see it, the two looked sweet to each other. But to the two, it's nothing more than their usual banters or so they say.

Truthfully, Seiran had never forgotten what happened between him and Jyuusan when he made her forget. He would always remember it before he goes to sleep. He had been waiting if she would say anything about that night but she never did. She just thanked him before she fell asleep. After that, it was never mentioned again. He wanted to talk about it and apologize to her but he did not want to remind her of what happened to her that day.

He also cannot forget seeing her nude in the hot spring. All he saw then are engraved in his memory. He cannot forget it no matter how he tried. He also constantly smiles to himself without realizing it when he recalls their kiss in the forest.

That night, he dreamed about Jyuusan again. He saw her crying alone in the corner of a room, he wanted to comfort her but he cannot reach her no matter how he tried to get near her. He felt like he is in chains, he watched with a heavy heart as she sobbed and sobbed as if waiting for someone to come and get her. ''Please don't cry. I'm here for you,'' he said. But she cannot hear him. His chest tightened in pain and he felt so useless again.

When he woke up in the morning, he had tears in his eyes. He wondered if he cried in his sleep. Due to that dream he decided to see Jyuusan. Jyuusan was surprised when he told her that he would meet her in the afternoon at their training ground. He helped her train the soldiers.

He did not know if Jyuusan did not want to talk to him or she really just forgot; but when she dismissed the soldiers, she turned to leave. Or perhaps she just pretended innocent and have forgotten.

He held her hand, ''Jyuusan, I want to talk to you.'' The soldiers who saw him do that smiled. Some gave a look of jealousy that he is able to hold her hand.

''Eh? About what, did I piss you off again,'' Jyuusan asked. They rested under a tree as they waited until when everyone has left. ''So what is it this time? I myself have not seen Shuurei-chan so don't tell me that I have been stealing her from you again. I haven't talk to Shouka-sama or His Majesty either.''

''I just wanted to talk to you,'' Seiran cleared and Jyuusan looked at him thinking that he is acting weird. ''Are you okay?'' he asked out of the blue.

''Huh? As you can see, I am doing well.'' She was surprised at his question. His voice was filled with concern that she smiled. They haven't seen each other since last time in the forest.

''I mean deep inside,'' he said and Jyuusan looked up to his eyes. He looked really worried. ''I had a dream last night and I saw you sobbing for what seemed like hours. Are you really alright,'' he continued in a gentle voice.

Seeing that he is serious, she answered honestly. ''I am doing well now. I'm no longer having those nightmares. Thank you for being so thoughtful.''

''I see. I'm glad.'' Seiran gazed at her and looked down. He was silent for some time and they just looked at each other waiting for who would continue the conversation first. And before they could talk, their lips met as if on their own. They did not know who made the first move. Maybe both of them. Instead of talking, they kissed as if it would settle the matter that they are supposed to talk about. The kiss was slow and gentle and that made it feel more romantic as they are sitting under a sakura tree.

Seiran licked her lips and Jyuusan only parted it after he did it for several times. He explored her and she warmly welcomed him. They did not know how long they kissed and when they broke apart it was Seiran who spoke first.

''Uh about last time, I'll take responsibility for what I did.'' What he meant is that he would marry her.

Jyuusan understood what he was talking about. ''No. I can't bother you any more than I already did. It was my fault it happened. I asked you to do it. And you yourself said it right? I should plan on how to get my vengeance for that time.''

''But – '' he was a little hurt that she quickly declined and rejected him. He wanted to apologize to her for losing his self-control and savoring her, and he intended to marry her as part of the apology of what he did. Likewise for fantasizing over her in the forest.

But Jyuusan did not want to get married due to a sense of responsibility and heartfelt apology.

''Seiran I was glad you got carried away. If you did not even get aroused after touching and kissing me, I would still be bothered by the memories of that bandit. If you were not aroused after getting so far, then it only meant you are disgusted with me. Are you?''

''No! Why would I be disgusted? I did not feel that way even a little. I was actually irritated that I am not the first one to do all those. I was not disgusted at all,'' then realizing what he said, he bit his lip. His face is red.

''Thank you for not being disgusted with me. You made me feel that I am not disgusting,'' Jyuusan said with a smile and kissed him. He responded to her zealously. He loved this kisses, just like the kiss in the forest. He thought that having her as his wife is not a bad idea after all. Maybe he would even enjoy it and be happy with her.

''How many times did you lick my lips?'' Jyuusan asked out of the blue when they parted.

''What?'' it was Seiran who blushed. He wondered how she could ask that like it was nothing. He licked her lips many times and he can no longer remember since he did not count.

''Did you notice my lipstick?''

''I thought you did not use any,'' Seiran replied; confused at why did she turn the conversation that way.

''Well it's colorless, tasteless, and odorless. I have planned the first step for my vengeance,'' Jyuusan said and kissed his lips again. Then she whispered to his ear so he could not see her eyes, ''I used a poisoned lipstick just a while ago. And before that I drank the antidote. You have three days to look for an antidote before it totally takes effect. On the fourth day if you have not yet drank the antidote by then, it would be good bye perhaps.'' She smiled at him and ruefully and said, ''see you around on Friday.'' She quickly dashed away from him after that.

Seiran was left under the tree unable to move. He was crestfallen. He felt like his heart was just crushed. ''What the heck was that?'' he touched his lips. 'Why the hell did I fall for that,' he thought. He was furious.

How could Jyuusan use a kiss in that manner? Their kissed felt so warm and real. 'So she just fake it then?' he thought with pain searing his heart. He had enjoyed the kiss thinking it was real. How could she use her lips, herself; to lure him into her trap?

He wondered why he even kissed her. He regretted his actions. He shouldn't have let his mask peel in front of her. He should have pretended like he did not care. She must have prepared herself when he told her in the morning that he wanted to talk to her.

He did not see Jyuusan the next days since she went training with her soldiers in another place. He spent the next two days asking around and reading books of what kind of poison can be added to a lipstick. He found several and consumed the third day looking for antidotes.

Next Chapter: Just A Bluff