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

Chapter 99: In the Kou Residence

Seiran and Shuuei watched the two in envy. They decided to wait for Ryuuki since he may collapse anytime. He was not able to have any rest at all. The servants did not say anything since Seiran is also a part of Shouka's family.

Seiran and Shuuei averted their eyes since the longer they look at the two, the more envious they become. Shuuei thought of Shusui who is in the Hyou clan right now and Seiran thought of Jyuusan who must be still sparring with military officers right now. Two men drank tea instead.

''Why do you think is Shuurei-dono crying while she kissed him two hours ago?'' Shuuei recalled.

Seiran glanced down at Shuurei and Ryuuki who are still kissing. This is the first time that he saw Shuurei kiss Ryuuki. What he had seen before had always been Ryuuki kissing Shuurei. He had heard Kouyuu and Shuuei talk about when Shuurei just returned from her four-year work travel in Saiunkoku. The two had witnessed Shuurei kiss back Ryuuki for the first time. ''I think you know that better than anyone,'' Seiran replied.

Shuuei smiled sadly. ''It's for the two of them. They cannot just get married if they wanted to since it meant that one has to give up something important.''

''Milady loves Ryuuki too, and that's all the more reason why she wanted to serve and protect him as a Censorate official,'' Seiran spoke what he had always known. He had been with Shuurei ever since she was a child and he knew almost everything about her. He instantly noticed when Shuurei's feelings for Ryuuki sprouted. Shuurei did not notice but Seiran and Shouka knew.

''What about you? When do you plan to marry my sister?'' Shuuei directly asked and he observed as Seiran paled.

''That's none of your business,'' Seiran replied with a stern voice. The tea he is drinking suddenly felt like thorns in his throat.

''Of course it's my business. She's my sister after all. I know she had been sleeping in your mansion for many times now,'' Shuuei revealed and Seiran paled even more. ''You have touched her. Am I right?'' he pried.

''You're all so nosy,'' Seiran said with a glare. Knowing about Jyuusan's love life is enough. How could they know even the sex life of their sister? Then again, she is their sister. They would know the nights she did not come home. He settled his tea cup on the table with a loud sound. ''She rejected my proposal okay?!'' he said in distraught.

Shuuei was dumbfounded. ''You mean after doing it with you so many times she still rejected you proposal?''

''Yes. I had proposed many times now too but she always turned it down. And later on she would suddenly show up at my door saying she would spend the night with me,'' Seiran said in confusion. ''And you know what she says? She would not marry me until when I make her pregnant.''

Shuuei looked at the distraught Seiran. He had never seen him like this that it was amusing. ''So you mean that you are not yet able to do that?''

Seiran looked down and that is enough to answer that Shuuei was right. ''I don't know. But it worries me. What if she would not notice that she already is and would still go overworking herself in the military. Seeing her horseback riding fighting with swords or with bow and arrows with military officers makes me feel uneasy. What if she accidentally falls or gets hit not knowing she is – '' Seiran cut what he is about to say and his head dropped to the table. When he is in this residence, he can say how he really felt.

He looked like a wilted flower most especially that his name Seiran meant 'Silent Orchid.' Seiran was always compared to a flower even while he was a child. He looked like a promising flower then, now he looked like a trampled flower.

Shuuei felt pity for this man for the first time. ''Do not worry too much. Shusui would quickly come to heal Jyuusan-hime if something like that happens. My Shusui would not allow pregnant women to suffer pain,'' Shuuei reassured. He looked at Seiran and stopped himself from laughing. This person who had called him useless two decades ago is now totally smitten by Jyuusan.

A silent breeze blew and Ryuuki felt the wind turn cold. He looked around. It's already past sunset. ''We'd better go inside,'' he said and stood up. He offered his hand to Shuurei to help her up.

Shuurei looked at the man in front of her. Shi Ryuuki in the purple robe of the emperor is smiling down at her with his loving eyes. She looked up to the Sakura tree and back to Ryuuki. She smiled as she thought that Ryuuki is indeed just like the tree – honored and standing tall. This man standing in front of her is the man who made her dreams come true. And just like how he made hers come true, he made laws that allowed many people of Saiunkoku to achieve their dreams too.

She looked at the hand waiting for hers. She slowly lifted her hand, as if making a decision until when she looked like she had made up her mind and let him have her hand. Ryuuki then pulled her up and they had another kiss before going inside the house.

Seiran and Shuuei quickly fixed themselves when they heard Ryuuki and Shuurei entering the house. The servants informed Shuurei that Seiran and another guest are waiting upstairs. Ryuuki and Shuurei went to the guest room and saw Seiran and Shuuei having tea.

''Have you been waiting here for long?'' Shuurei guiltily asked. She had been smooching with Ryuuki while a guest is waiting. She did not consider Seiran as a guest.

''We just arrived,'' the two lied in unison and informed her that they came for the emperor. But they cannot fool Ryuuki who is eyeing them suspiciously. They did not look at him in the eye. Ryuuki instantly noticed that the two are sitting where they could have a nice view of people outside the house. He knew that these two are among the eyes that had been watching him and Shuurei under the Sakura tree.

''Since you are all here, let's have dinner before you leave. Please wait here while I prepare dinner. I suddenly feel like cooking a feast,'' Shuurei invited.

''I'll help out,'' Seiran quickly stood up. He needs a distraction. He missed helping Shuurei prepare dinner. He would not miss this opportunity.

''Me too,'' Ryuuki offered. He did not practice cooking for nothing. He wanted to apply it even if just once in a while.

''And of course me too,'' Shuuei volunteered. He cannot lose to this two. He is a good cook now too and Shusui had appreciated his cookings.

Seeing the determined faces of the three, Shuurei had no choice but to let them help instead of the servants. She really planned to cook a lot since she is suddenly feeling better. The heaviness in her heart was gone and she felt like she can normally breathe again.

Next Chapter: Another Guest