Title: Little Riches

Fandom: Fushigi Yuugi

Pairing: Hotohori/Nuriko

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 520

Summary/Description: Nuriko imparts a little knowledge. Hotohori listens.

Warning/Spoilers: No spoilers; takes place early-ish in the series.

A/N: 31 days, February 18th: infinite riches in a little room.Writing this made me grin, although it didn't come to me that easy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi.

Nuriko had just immersed himself fin the warm soapy water of the bathtub when the maid who'd drawn the bath stuck her head through the curtains.

"Hotohori-sama is coming," she said, and bowed deeply.

It was all the warning that Nuriko got. Before he could ask when or what for, the Emperor of Konan pushed aside the curtains and stepped into the small bath chamber, regal and tall.

Instinctively, Nuriko sank lower in the tub, even though both he and Hotohori-sama knew that he had nothing to hide. He'd been doing this for so long that it was ingrained; he didn't think he could ever fully give it up.

"Hotohori-sama!" he said brightly. "To what do I owe the--"

"Nuriko," the Emperor said, interrupting. He didn't even seem to realise that Nuriko had been speaking. His eyes were restless and unfocussed. "I'm sorry to disturb you. Have you seen Miaka for the evening?"

Nuriko couldn't help a small pout. Of course he was looking for Miaka.

"No I haven't, Your Highness," he said, gathering bubbles in his hands.

"I see." The Emperor did not seem at all pleased. "Then… do you have any idea where she might be?"

Nuriko reflected. It was a bit hard for him to think, because the Emperor had (unconsciously?) stepped closer to him; it was terribly distracting. Nuriko could smell him; his scent was that of wood and lavender.

"Hmm… I think she might have said something about going into town with Tamahome. I'm not sure."

"Ah." Hotohori's face clouded over, and Nuriko, smiling bitterly, thought that he knew exactly how his monarch felt.

Hotohori turned to exit the room, and on a wild impulse, Nuriko reached out and grabbed hold of his wrist. The Emperor halted, startled by the damp hold on him. He looked down at Nuriko with a question in his eyes.

Nuriko was smiling.

"You're going to find what you're looking for, Your Highness, even if it's not what you set out for initially. You're the Emperor, after all; infinite riches are going to come to you." He stared up at his monarch, feeling his pulse beneath his thumb.

Hotohori was silent for a long minute, before a small smile crept onto his face. Nuriko felt his heart flutter.

"Thank you, Nuriko…" Hotohori began, before cutting himself off as his face flushed with colour. "I… must be going now."

And he left the room in a flurry of clothing.

Nuriko pouted deeply in confusion, folding his arms across his chest. Why on earth did Hotohori-sama leave so abruptly? Things had been going so well, and if…

Oh.

Nuriko couldn't help but laugh as he looked down at himself in the tub. All of the bubbles that had been spread all over the water had gravitated towards his chest. Leaving the lower part of his body uncovered.

The lower part of this body that had reacted to Hotohori-sama more than he'd thought.

Nuriko stifled a sigh as he slipped his hand underwater, even as his cheeks and chest heated up. This was definitely one of the downfalls of being a man.

A/N: LOL, puns.

To clarify, in the last line, Nuriko is referring to the fact that male arousal is so obvious and err, un-miss-able, not that he has some problem with his jewels. I'd say that (apart from, you know, wanting to be a woman) Nuriko quite liked his penis. ♥