"Aniue!" He spun around at the call, ignoring the man who slid off the end of his sword and onto the ground in a bloody mess. "ANIUE!" Seiran's vision was obscured by a curtain of yellow and purple as Ryuuki's form crashed into him and landed them both in a heap on the ground. He struggled to get the younger man off of him for a short moment. That's when he noticed the red.

"Ani… ue… ma…m'ru… minna…" The Emperor's voice was wet and airy, but to Seien it sounded as loud as thunder. Shaking, he reached a hand out to his brother, fingers trailing through Ryuuki's hair and across his cheek as the young ruler's eyes drifted shut. A million thoughts raced through the silver haired man's head, but in an instant stopped.

Face blank, the former member of the Satsujinzoku, laid the Emperor's form out on the floor with unusual gentleness. Gleaming steel-toned eyes turned to the cowering form of Kouyuu. Seiran had let himself be distracted, defending the weaponless Kouyuu against the onslaught of attackers. That had been careless of him. Yes, if Kouyuu got hurt Shouka-sama and Reishin-sama would have been angry (the later not overtly, but assassins sent in the night would beg to differ) but Kouyuu should not have ever been his priority – not when his brother was lying on the floor, crimson life blood spilling from his too still form.

"Take care of him." Seiran muttered to Kouyuu emotionlessly. The green-haired man gulped but nodded, rushing to the side of his sovereign, and desperately trying to stem the flow of blood. They were near the far wall. They'd be safe with Seiran and Shuuei providing a barrier between them and their attackers. Assassins sent to kill the Emperor, their numbers had increased significantly recently, but these were the first to get so close.

No one was exactly sure where Shou-taishi had run off to, but it had been months. Months of conflict in the court as the officials got more and more out of hand. With two of his father's advisors missing, one dead, the other who know where, Ryuuki slowly lost control of the nobles. Maybe this was a test, a test of the young Emperor's ability to deal with court politics. But then there had been the bandits in Sa Provence, and Sou-taifu had lead the battalion sent to quell the issue.

Alone, except for a disinherited Ran and a never-claimed Kou adoptee, Ryuuki had few supporters. Some nobles seemed to think the time was ripe to install a new family on the throne of Saiunkoku. When Shuuei, Kouyuu, Seiran and Ryuuki entered the Emperor's office that evening none of them expected to be so quickly surrounded by dark clad figures out for the Emperor's life – but here they were. Shuuei and Seiran proved themselves as the Emperor's bodyguards, but the young royal refused to be helpless and took up the first sword he could get his hands on and aided his guards and friends.

The Royal Guards were, of course, slow to respond. Breaking into the room just as Seiran spun around to deal with the attacker who thought he could sneak up on a defenseless Kouyuu, they froze at their Emperor's cry. Now everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath and stare at the slowly standing form of the man their Emperor had fallen to protect. Silver hair dipped into his eyes for a moment, but when his eyes met theirs many took unconscious steps back. Gone was the aloof but good natured guard they'd come to know. In his place was a killer – cold hearted and merciless. Without a sound the man spun into action, his blade singing as it sliced through enemy after enemy. Never stopping, never pausing – just moving around and around until they all lay at his feet motionless.

"Get the royal physician," he intoned to the silent guards. None of them dared to move, half in fear, half in shock. "NOW!" Seiran bellowed, and they fled. Sparing barely a glance at the panting, injured form of Ran Shuuei, he knelt next to Li Kouyuu. The green-haired man gave him a short calculating look before returning his concentration to stemming the flow of blood from Ryuuki's side.

Seien prayed to the Eight Immortal Sages that his brother would yet live.


AN: Saiunkoku Monogatari and all characters and situations do not belong to me but to the associated writers, publishers and distributers of the work. No profit is made from this fan work, and no copyright infringement is intended.

Ryuuki's line translates to "Big Brother... Protect... Everyone" It just didn't flow well in English so it stayed in Japanese.

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