Disclaimer : I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari. It belongs to Sai Yukino.
Rating : PG13
Genre : Humour/Friendship
Warnings : Yaoi, mild
Pairings : Shuei/Koyu
Word Count : 395

Summary : "So, Li Koyu, I heard you like men?"

Time-fit : Between chapters 2 and 3 of Twin Irises.

Notes :
(1) This is a sequel to Not Enough Layers
(2) Written in response to LJ Saiun_Challenge prompt "Oops".

italics = thoughts; bold= flashback

Even from forty feet away, they both heard the sound of a body colliding with a stone pillar. Shuei jumped to move in the direction of the sound, but was stopped by Ryuki's hand on his arm.

"I think you've freaked Koyu out enough for one day, Shuei. That's the second pillar he's walked into already. His SCHOLARLY BODY can't take very much more abuse."

Shuei slumped into a chair, groaning.
"I really messed up, didn't I, Your Highness?"

Ryuki rolled his eyes.
"What possessed you to talk about Koyu's BODY? I don't think Koyu was even aware, until recently, that he HAD a body! Goodness, Shuei, don't you know not to come on that strong to a suspected-virgin?"

[Flashback]

"So, Li Koyu, I heard you like men?"

"And I heard you don't."

Shuei cursed the grapevine. He regretted not having slept with at least ONE man in his years of sexual activity! It couldn't have been that difficult! And it certainly would have gotten him out of this awkward situation!

He looked at the one man he's attracted to - arms crossed, stand-offish, almost combative.

Koyu's body language is totally unreceptive.
Good grief, he's one intimidating scholar!
Come on, Ran Shuei, you can do it! Just say "I like you".

"I like your scholarly body."

Shuei protested miserably.
"I didn't mean to! It came out all wrong! What do I do now, Your Highness?"

Ryuki shook his head incredulously.
"The suave General Ran, reduced to this?"

Ryuki approached the scholarly body that was wrapped around the pillar, forehead pressed against the cold stone.
"Koyu, we're talking about adult attraction, not a childhood crush, and appreciation of the other's body is ..."

"Don't you think I know that, Your Highness? Didn't you catch me appreciating Shuei's body?"

"Then why did you run?"

Koyu muttered against the pillar.
"I panicked. What do I do now, Your Highness?"

"Depends. Do you want to make the next move?"

Koyu shook his head.
"I can't."

"Ah well, then there's nothing to do, but wait for Shuei."
Ryuki paused.
"And, Koyu, try not to run, no matter what comes out of Shuei's mouth."

Koyu nodded. And then he smiled dreamily, leaning his flushed cheek against the cold pillar.
"So. Shuei likes me?"

Ryuki tapped Koyu's shoulder.
"Come on, Tutor Li, let's get this scholarly body back to my lesson!"

[The End]